Washington Irving

Born on this date in 1783. He is a famous American short story writer, essayist, poet, travel book writer, biographer, and columnist, best known for the short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". We read both of these earlier in the schoolyear as part of our study of American Literature.

Achievements:

1. Irving is the first belletrist in American literature, writing for pleasure at a time when writing was practical and for useful purposes.
2. He is the first American literary humorist.
3. He has written the first modern short stories.
4. He is the first to write history and biography as entertainment.
5. He introduced the nonfiction prose as a literary genre.
6. His use of the gothic looks forward to Poe.

(from Perkins, et. al. The American Tradition in Literature. 6th Ed. One Volume)

I had to look up Belletrist. It is defined as one who is devoted to belles-lettres...meaning one who is interested in the finer or higher forms of literature; literature being regarded as fine art.

Here are a couple of good Irving quotes:

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."


"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them."


Happy Birthday, Mr. Irving!