An intriguing collection with an interesting set of narrative structure behind the stories. The measure of character is layered by, typically, third-person narration. Many of the earliest stories in this collection were quite palatable-- as was the titular story, but the middle and third part of the book contained tales that did not satisfy.

Nonetheless, a good read in parts. ( )

Simply classic!
Delightfully written, this classic American folktale recounts the exploits of schoolmaster Ichabod Crane during his brief stay in the cozy little town of Sleepy Hollow. The town is wrought however, with ghost stories dangling upon the lips of its citizens and goblins lurking in every corner. Ichabod, the ever faithful disciple of the great Cotton Mather and hopeful victor in the battle for the Love of Katrina Van Tassel, is unamused by these folk legends and braves the odds in order to win the favor of his lovely lady.
A little bit slow in the beginning. Washington Irving likes to paint the scene very vividly for his readers. He also tends to use a lot of anecdotes in his writing. But the older English style that it is written in is beautiful and adds to the subtle reminder that this is a classic of American literature.
I loved this book. I can't believe it took me this long to read it but I'm glad I finally did.
I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! 😁 ( )

the very mention of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow made me shiver when i was a boy. Having now read it as a full-fledged adult, i can say that it no longer gives me anything but laughter and pity. laughter as Irving's portrayal of the quintessential know-it-all hipster type and pity at the thick-necked rube who thought it would be a Good Idea to run this man out of town. this is more of a tale about the process of Othering than it is a ghost story. but then maybe a lot of such ghost stories have come about due to circumstances similar to those in the story.

Rip Van Winkle
again, i think Irving gives insight into how a lot of history has unfolded and how certain myths and legends propagate down the timeline. Rip was a happy-go-lucky fellow, well-liked by most in his village but thought of as a sort of listless and lazy mooch. his wife gave him nothing but grief for his lack of efforts in providing for her and their children and, so, one day he wanders into the mountains and doesn't return for 20 years. meanwhile, his wife has died and he has become an old man who can now, without hindrance, carry on his tradition of casting aimlessly about town, telling stories, and smoking his pipe. he wants everyone to believe that he met up with a band of strange characters in the hills who play ninepins, watch over the Hudson river region, and drink a particularly potent beverage. The postscript fervently affirms that Rip's tale is real largely due to one Diederich Knickerbocker's impression of Rip's clarity of mind (despite the changes to his story Irving carefully notes earlier in the story)and a "certificate" signed and crossed before a county court. "The story, therefore, is beyond the possibility of doubt." ( )

classic ( )

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is my favorite in this book, but all the stories are fun to read as a picture of life in early America. ( )