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Washington Irving, born in New York in 1783, preferred adventure and drama over formal education. His fascination with ghosts started in Tarrytown, leading to his pseudonym "Jonathan Oldstyle" in the New York Morning Chronicle. Renowned for works like "A History of New York" and "The Sketch Book," Irving achieved massive success, drawing from German and Dutch folktales. He was the first American author to earn a living solely through writing. Though criticized for simplicity, he established a unique voice in vernacular American literature.
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Bio • Born in New York in 1783 • Preferred adventure and dramas to school • Sent to Tarrytown: Start of fascination with ghosts • New York Morning Chronicle- pseudonym Jonathan Oldstyle • Salmagundi: Writes under several different names
Style & Theme • Wrote a lot of Satire • A History of New York- Diedrich Knickerbocker • The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. • Huge success • He traveled a lot after the death of William and drew from German and Dutch folktales • Went to Spain and wrote about Columbus: A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Influence & Critics • First American Man of Letters and the first to earn his living solely by his pen • First to place his stories in the USA even as he borrowed from German and Dutch tradition • First to write in vernacular & without a didactic undertone- simply for entertainment • Critics: Said his writing lacked sophisticated theme • Proved he was just as talented as the English
