The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated). Вашингтон Ирвинг

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The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated) - Вашингтон Ирвинг


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centuries have slept a dreamless sleep, or watched unwinkingly, start up and pass before you in all their life and glory?

      But leaving this again, who embarked with Columbus upon his gallant ship, traversed with him the dark and mighty ocean, leaped upon the land and planted there the flag of Spain, but this same man, now sitting by my side? And being here at home again, who is a more fit companion for money-diggers? and what pen but his has made Rip Van Winkle, playing at ninepins on that thundering afternoon, as much part and parcel of the Catskill Mountains as any tree or crag that they can boast?

      But these are topics familiar from my boyhood, and which I am apt to pursue; and lest I should be tempted now to talk too long about them, I will, in conclusion, give you a sentiment, most appropriate, I am sure, in the presence of such writers as Bryant, Halleck, and - but I suppose I must not mention the ladies here -

      THE LITERATURE OF AMERICA:

      She well knows how to do honour to her own literature and to that of other lands, when she chooses Washington Irving for her representative in the country of Cervantes.

      COLLECTIONS OF SHORT STORIES

       Table of Contents

       Table of Contents

       THE AUTHOR’S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF

       THE VOYAGE

       ROSCOE

       THE WIFE

       RIP VAN WINKLE

       ENGLISH WRITERS ON AMERICA

       RURAL LIFE IN ENGLAND

       THE BROKEN HEART

       THE ART OF BOOK-MAKING

       A ROYAL POET

       THE COUNTRY CHURCH

       THE WIDOW AND HER SON

       A SUNDAY IN LONDON

       THE BOAR’S HEAD TAVERN, EASTCHEAP

       THE MUTABILITY OF LITERATURE

       RURAL FUNERALS

       THE INN KITCHEN

       THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM

       WESTMINSTER ABBEY

       CHRISTMAS

       THE STAGECOACH

       CHRISTMAS EVE

       CHRISTMAS DAY

       THE CHRISTMAS DINNER

       LONDON ANTIQUES

       LITTLE BRITAIN

       STRATFORD-ON-AVON

       TRAITS OF INDIAN CHARACTER

       PHILIP OF POKANOKET

       JOHN BULL

       THE PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE

       THE ANGLER

       THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

       L’ENVOY

      THE SKETCHBOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT.

      “I have no wife nor children, good or bad, to provide for. A mere spectator of other men’s fortunes and adventures, and how they play their parts; which, methinks, are diversely presented unto me, as from a common theatre or scene.” — BURTON.

      PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.

      THE following papers, with two exceptions, were written in England, and formed but part of an intended series for which I had made notes and memorandums. Before I could mature a plan, however, circumstances compelled me to send them piecemeal to the United States, where they were published from time to time in portions or numbers. It was not my intention to publish them in England, being conscious that much of their contents could be interesting only to American readers, and, in truth, being deterred by the severity with which American productions had been treated by the British press.

      By the time the contents of the first volume had appeared in this occasional manner, they began to find their way across the Atlantic, and to be inserted, with many kind encomiums, in the London Literary Gazette. It was said, also, that a London bookseller intended to publish them in a collective form. I determined, therefore, to bring them forward myself, that they might at least have the benefit of my superintendence and revision. I accordingly took the printed numbers which I had received from the United States, to Mr. John Murray, the eminent publisher, from whom I had already received friendly attentions, and left them with him for examination, informing him that should he be inclined to bring them before the public, I had materials enough on hand for a second volume. Several days having elapsed without any communication from Mr. Murray, I addressed a note to him, in which I construed his silence into a tacit rejection of my work,


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