From The Catskill Mountains to a medieval chapel, the pioneer of American short stories conjures magical vignettes of nineteenth-century life.

About the Author
Washington Irving (1783-1859), one of America's first successful professional writers, was born and raised in New York City. He also spent time in London and served as a diplomatic attache in Spain. Best known today for his tales, he was equally famous in life for his sketches of European life and his biographies of historical figures.