In this collection of thirty-four essays and short stories, Washington Irving explores the personality of his pseudonym, Geoffrey Crayon, while providing a study on human behavior. Rip Van Winkle introduces the famed literacy title character, an unmotivated, care-free man who drinks and parties with strangers in the mountains, falls asleep, and wakes up twenty years later in post-revolution America. Also among this collection are tales of sentiment, such as The Broken Heart, which follows a young woman who grieves the death of her lover. Often described as a tear-jerking narrative, The Widow and Her Son depicts an old Englishwoman as she cares for her dying son after his return from his military service at sea. Switching moods, A Sunday in London provides a vivid portrait of a day in London, focusing on the ways the Church influenced the day’s events. In a similar observant lens, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon includes a five-part narrative on Christmas celebrations, starting with a refection on the holiday and concluding with a description of Christmas dinner. Finally, the collection ends with the famous and beloved tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horsemen in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Featuring ghost stories, anthropological essays, and emotional narratives, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon includes the best works of Washington Irving. Originally published as a serial publication starting 1819, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon was released in seven highly anticipated installments. With sentiment, elegance, and beautiful prose that excites the imagination, Irving sought to eliminate the animosity between English and American literature with this collection of work. The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon impressed both Americans and the British, capturing the attention of many other influential writers such as Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron. With classic stories, characters, and a privileged look into historical events and traditions, Washington Irving’s The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon continues to excite and satiate readers, even two-hundred years later. This edition of Washington Irving’s The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon features an eye-catching cover design and is printed in a stylish font, creating an approachable reading experience for a modern audience.
