Irving, Washington (1783-1859), American writer, the first American author to achieve international renown, who created the fictional characters Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane. The critical acceptance and enduring popularity of Irving's tales involving these characters proved the effectiveness of the as an American literary form. Born in New York City, Irving studied law at private schools. After serving in several law offices and traveling in Europe for his health from 1804 to 1806, he was eventually …showed first 75 words of 3122 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3122 total…orge S. Washington Irving, Esquire. New York: Knopf, 1925. McDermott, John Francis, ed. The Western Journals of Washington Irving. Norman: U of Oklahoma P, 1944. Myers, Andrew B., ed. A Century of Commentary on the Works of Washington Irving, 1860-1974. Tarrytown, NY: Sleepy Hollow Restorations, 1976. Rubin-Dorsky, Jeffrey. Adrift in the Old World: The Psychological Pilgrimage of Washington Irving. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1988. Williams, Stanley T. The Life of Washington Irving. 2 vols. New York: Oxford U P, 1935.