The name Knickerbocker came to be used for descendants of the original Dutch settlers of New York and eventually for any New Yorker. Washington Irving served in U. Embassy posts in England and Spain, and became America's first Spanish-speaking ambassador.
While traveling in London, Irving was inspired to capture and write about the images of an "Olde English" Christmas celebration in his book, Bracebridge Hall. During his travels to Spain, he began to write more imaginative and semi-scholarly works on Columbus, the Alhambra, and the Moors.
Books detailing these adventures were well received by American readers. Retiring to his home in Sunnyside along the shores of the Hudson River in , Washington Irving continued to write essays, stories and history books. Washington Irving was engaged to marry Matilda Hoffmann, the daughter of a prominent local family.
She died of consumption on April 26, , at the age of Irving never became engaged or married anyone after the tragedy. This loss indeed scarred his life. In response to an inquiry about why he had never married, Irving wrote in a letter, saying: "For years I could not talk on the subject of this hopeless regret; I could not even mention her name, but her image was continually before me, and I dreamt of her incessantly.
Irving returned to Europe in and lived there for 17 years. James Fenimore Cooper was the only other contemporary American writer to receive international acclaim. In while living in Spain, Irving published "Alhambra," which described the history and stories of Moorish Spain.
In his later years, he wrote less fiction. His works include essays, poetry, travel writing, and biography. Over his lifetime, he published biographies of poet Oliver Goldsmith, the prophet Muhammad, and Christopher Columbus.
With his popularity high, Irving kept up with work and correspondence into his 70s. He completed his five-volume biography of his namesake George Washington only eight months before his death.
He seemed to foretell his death, as he said before going to bed: "Well, I must arrange my pillows for another weary night! If this could only end! American literary scholar Fred Lewis Pattee summarized Irving's contributions as follows:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. He landed a job as editor of Analectic Magazine , and briefly served in the military during the War of In , Irving traveled to England to help his brothers with the floundering family business.
When that endeavor failed, he composed a collection of stories and essays that became The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Published in several installments over the course of , The Sketch Book contained two of the author's most famous works, "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and made him a literary star both in England and the United States.
Irving followed with Bracebridge Hall , and then Tales of a Traveller After accepting an invitation from the U. Minister to Spain, he moved to Madrid in and embarked on extensive research for A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus , as well as the works that became Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada and Tales of the Alhambra Irving was then appointed secretary of the U.
Upon returning to the United States in , Irving visited some of the little-known territories off the western fringes of the country, an expedition that inspired A Tour on the Prairies Continuing the western frontier theme, he wrote Astoria , an account of the formation of John Jacob Astor's fur company, followed by The Adventures of Captain Bonneville After another stint abroad as U.
He turned out a succession of mainly historical and biographical works during this time, including the five-volume Life of George Washington
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