Washington Irving, one of the great American classics

Portrait of Washington Irving by John Wesley Jarvis. 1809.

washington irving is one of the classic North American writers best known. Who has not read or seen and felt a chill with the Headless Horseman de The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in its multiple versions? And who has not felt a special sympathy for his figure thanks to his Tales of the Alhambra? Today this article dedicated to him goes.

washington irving

Born in New York, in April 1783, is considered the first American author to achieve worldwide fame. He is also the first to use the literature to make people laugh and caricature the reality of his time, but in a way that did not bother the public. He also created the American colloquial style later taken on by colleagues like Mark Twain.

He stayed out of the political and social movements that occurred in his time, but he is also a representative of American romanticism. Of course, a romanticism with its most superficial characteristics such as love of the past, the fantastic and the legends. He also had the traveler impulse shared by so many other writers and artists on both sides of the Atlantic.

Friend of Walter Scott

It was his friendship with the great Scottish romantic writer, which he made on his travels to Europe, that influenced in his work and encouraged him to write one of his most representative titles: The Sketch Book, a series of essays and stories. It was published in the United States between 1819-20, in various volumes, and as a book in England in 1820.

The Sketch Book

It contains portraits of english life as The Christmas Dinner o Westminster Abbey, among others. Also essays on American clichés and adaptations of German folk tales as Rip van winkle y The legend of Sleepy Hollow, perhaps his best known work. Popular elements, staging, slightly malicious humor, superstition, and sensual details abound as well.

This book marked a milestone in the cultural independence of the United States, not because of English influences, but because of their assimilation.

In Spain

Was great traveler, restless character but also sickly that did not prevent him from making several trips to his country, Canada y Europa. He wrote about them in his newspapers, where he wrote down his impressions. He was here in his period as a diplomat, since he was Ambassador of the United States in Madrid. From there came a biography of Christopher Columbus (1828) and The Tales of the Alhambra (1832)

For the latter was inspired by folk tales and legends. He was a great student of folklore, very observant, and used to take notes on everything. Very impressed with the tradition and richness of ancient Spanish stories, the material he collected was used for those tales.

The American West

When he returned to America, he continued to travel which provided him with material for his subsequent works focused on the American West. They were titles like Journey through the grasslands, Astoria o The Adventures of Captain Bonneville. But none achieved the success of the previous ones.

Ultimately

Washington Irving offered the public what it wanted. Historical and biographical works as literary entertainment but sufficiently documented, and full of traditional and colloquial touches, and attractive topics.

Some fragments of Tales of the Alhambra

  • In fact, give a Spaniard the shade in summer, the sun in winter, a piece of bread, garlic, oil, chickpeas, an old cape and a guitar, even if it is not his own, the sounds of the guitar, and what roll the world as you like!
  • Let others complain about the lack of good roads and sumptuous hotels and all the complicated comforts of a cultured and civilized country in meekness and commonplace, but let me climb the rough mountains, walk through there wandering and the half-wild customs, but frank and hospitable, that give such an exquisite flavor to the beloved, old and romantic Spain!

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