Washington Irving, página 2 de 24

No poco han contribuido al aura mítica de Granada y su principal monumento estos Cuentos de la Alhambra que funden realidad y ficción de manera amenísima y que depararon gran fama a su autor y, junto con ella, el reconocimiento de escritores del siglo XIX como Theophile Gautier, Richard Ford o Prosper Merimee.Todo el libro, desde las propias vivencias de Irving en los salones de la Alhambra a las leyendas fantasticas, aparece bañado por una onirica luz romantica que ninguno de los muchos viajeros o literatos locales que lo imitaron consiguio captar con tanta delicadeza.Esta edicion recupera la primera edicion de la obra (1833) en la que fue tambien su primera traduccion española, toda sabor y con un toque de exotismo si no espacial, temporal que conviene a las narraciones.Delicioso.ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ ALMODOVAR

En su país, Washington Irving tiene una gran importancia literaria como uno de los primeros escritores profesionales, cuya obra influyó en destacadas figuras como Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain y Edgar Allan Poe. Tanto Rip Van Winkle, como Sleepy Hollow (la leyenda del jinete sin cabeza), la ultima llevada al cine por Tim Burton, se basan en sendas leyendas que circulaban entre los colonos holandeses. La rica vena narrativa de las leyendas medievales del Rhin es el sustrato en el que se basa el cuento gotico El novio de Ultratumba.

"The Life Of George Washington" is a monumental work on the life of one of the most famous American presidents. Originally published in five volumes between 1853 and 1859, it is a treasure chest of information on Washington and the Civil War. This work is presumeably the most intimate and fascinating biography of a man who worked his way from an Army commander to the first President of the United States. This is volume five out of five.

The "Tales of a Traveller" are most remarkable for their second part, entitled " Buckthorne and his Friends," in which the author introduces us to literary life in its various aspects, as he had observed it in London, and to the relations in which authors at that time stood to the booksellers. His sketches of the different personages are individual, characteristic and diverting, yet with what a kindly pencil they are all drawn! His good nature overspreads and harmonizes everything, like the warm atmosphere which so much delights us in a painting.

There is a halo over both places, and a sadness too, particularly with all relating to Lord Byron; although the latter days of Scott were overcast by pecuniary misfortunes, there was something so noble, so benevolent, so exalted in his career, that he is remembered with the triumphant expression of "See what genius can achieve!" The records of Byron and his ancient house are gloomy and magnificent, and the kindly and gentle pen of Washington Irving becomes paralyzed, in a degree, when writing the records of Newstead. But at Abbotsford it flows gaily and cheerfully on, and indeed we know of no two men in the world who could have better assimilated together than Scott and Irving. We do not enter into any comparison of their genius; it would be unseemly; we speak merely of their habits and feelings. Irving understood Scott perfectly, and appreciated him as well. He is one whose bosom overflows with kindly feelings, and whose senses answer the desire of his hearta heart which teaches him to enjoy and sympathize with whatever is excellent upon earth! We shall look for the next volume which is to appear with increased pleasure. When a writer is an accurate observer of human nature, and possesses also a benevolent mind, he cannot fail to improve and interest his readers. How much, then, do we not already owe to the author of the " Sketch-Book!

This is the annotated edition including a detailed biographical primer on the life and works of the author.Here is another volume of Washington Irvings delightful Miscellanies, drawn " from the enchanted fountains of old Spanish chronicles.""Few events in history," prefaces the author, "have been so signal and striking in their main circumstances, and so overwhelming and enduring in their consequences, as that of the conquest of Spain by the Saracens." From the records of this mighty event has Washington Irving woven his volume of fixing legends; "not claiming for them the authenticity of sober history, yet giving nothing that has not historical foundation." Tinctured with saintly miracle, savoring of the cloister, and rich in romantic fictions that betray their Arabian authors, from such apocryphal sources, Spanish historians have taken their rise, "as pure rivers may be traced up to the fens and mantled pools of a morass." It is true that discriminating authors have only culled such particulars as, from their probability and congruity, might be safely recorded as historical facts; yet, most of these are tinged from their romantic source.

"The Life Of George Washington" is a monumental work on the life of one of the most famous American presidents. Originally published in five volumes between 1853 and 1859, it is a treasure chest of information on Washington and the Civil War. This work is presumeably the most intimate and fascinating biography of a man who worked his way from an Army commander to the first President of the United States. This is volume one out of five.

Several papers were written by Irving in 1839 and the following year, for the " Knickerbocker," a monthly periodical conducted by his friend, Lewis Gaylord Clark, all of them such as he only could write. They were afterward collected into a volume, entitled " WolfertsRoost," from the ancient name of that beautiful residence of his on the banks of the Hudson, in which they were mostly written. They were, perhaps, read with more interest in the volume than in the magazine, just as some paintings of the highest merit are seen with more pleasure in the artists room than on the walls of an exhibition.

"The Alhambra" is one of the most famous collections of essays, stories and small sketches by Washington Irving. The book and most of the stories were written during his stay in Granada, Spain.

The Adventures of Captain Bonneville is a rambler through the Back Country, on a trapping scheme. The gallant Captains employment, however, not being, as in the southern parts of the land of liberty, to trap men, but wolves, foxes, beavers, rats, and, we presume, every thing that wears a skin. The Captains adventures lead him into the heart of the mountain chain which divides the waters of the west from those of the United States. He hunts, shoots, and roves at will through this vast region of rock, precipice, and forest. But this work talks of more than mountains. It gives us some insight into the native race which ranged those mountains, and whom the march of mind, in the shape of American squatters, was hourly driving from their lands; and the march of freedom, in the shape of peach brandy, was as rapidly driving out of existence.

This volume comprises those inimitable stories that have given immortality to the traditions of the Hudson, and, as it were, touched the classic-chord in colonial history.

Irvings extensive work on Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous biographies in American history. The name of Washington Irving, prefixed to any work, is in itself a sufficient earnest of liberal sentiment and graceful composition. With generous principles and pure intellectual tastes, he unquestionably unites literary talents of no common order. The subject, also, which he has here chosen for the exercise of his powers, is one, if not of any real novelty, at least abounding both in romantic excitement and philosophical interest. It is a subject in many respects, congenial to his own poetical cast of feeling, his imaginative temperament, his amiable and enlightened spirit, and, above all, to his national enthusiasm as a citizen of that continent, of which the discovery has immortalised the fame of his hero. Endowed with such qualifications, and thus inspired by characteristic fondness for his design, it was easy to anticipate the degree of his success in its accomplishment; and it is needless to say, that he has produced a very amusing and elegant book.

At Sunnyside, Irving wrote his " Life of Oliver Goldsmith." Putnam, the bookseller, had said to him one day : "Here is Fosters Life of Goldsmith ; I think of republishing it.""I once wrote a Memoir of Goldsmith," answered Irving, " which was prexed to an edition of his works printed at Paris ; and I have thought of enlarging it and making it more perfect."" If you will do that," was the reply of the bookseller, "I shall not republish the Life by Foster." Within three months afterward, Irvings " Life of Goldsmith" was nished and in press. It was so much superior to the original sketch, in the exactness of the particulars, the entertainment of the anecdotes, and the beauty of the style, that it was really a new work. There is no biographical memoir which carries forward the reader so delightfully and with so little tediousness of recital or reection. The reader is always being tempted to wish that Irving had written more works of the kind; but this could hardly be ; for Where could he have found another Goldsmith ?

These are the notebooks of Washington Irving, containing the jottings made by Irving during his travels in Europe between 1815 and 1830. These journals have been kept in the Irving family until within the last few years of the 19th century. The number of people who think they could write is larger than most of us suspect; it is pleasantly larger than the number who think they can write. There is not one of the former but will be eager to read Irvings notebooks. For they are the genuine backstage of literature. They are real notebooks: they are not journals, written with an eye on the public, as are most of the notebooks that push into print. They are not a collection of Irvings profound thoughts. Neither are they commentaries; Waterloo was but just over, but you will find in these pages few choice bits of gossip concerning the men and affairs of that momentous period. Obeying the strange impulse which seems to be common to all of us, big and little, Irving did set down each day the state of the weather and if he slept well. But this is about as far as the journalizing goes: the rest is observations, character sketches, scraps of sentences, skeleton plotsthese three volumes should help to dispel the notion that writers "make up" their books; only the poor writers invent anything, for they write for the sake of writing; fellows like Irving write for the sake of life, straining to catch and fix some of its overwhelming stream of pictures and passions.

The poverty of our literature in reference to Mahomet and Mahometanism is so conspicuous and so inconvenient that we may well receive with gratitude the authors very able endeavour to relieve it. With freedom from prejudice and independence of judgment, he combines an extensive and intimate knowledge of the most authentic sources of information, and, after several years of labour, has produced this volume in the hope of contributing to the complete elucidation and final settlement of Mahomets real character and claims. After a careful examination of them, and after comparing them with those of sundry of his predecessors and contemporaries, it appears to us that the author has abundant reason to be gratified with the success he has achieved. Most conscientiously prepared, and based on authorities whom the Moslems themselves appeal to as decisive, his work may be used with equal confidence both by the historian and the controversialist. We heartily commend it to every one who, on so important a subject, desires to have what, on the whole, is probably the best and most complete book in any language, and shall avail. ourselves of it and of other sources of information, in this paper, to present a few of the leading events of the Prophets life, with a view to a brief illustration of his character and of the means and meaning of his success.

In 1830 Irving published his " Chronicles of the Conquest of Granada," one of the most delightful of his works, an exact history, for such it is admitted to be by thosewho have searched most carefully the ancient records of Spain, yet so full of personal incident, so diversied with surprising turns of fortune, and these wrought up with such picturesque effect, that, to use an expression of Pope, a young lady might read it by mistake for a romance.

"The Life Of George Washington" is a monumental work on the life of one of the most famous American presidents. Originally published in five volumes between 1853 and 1859, it is a treasure chest of information on Washington and the Civil War. This work is presumeably the most intimate and fascinating biography of a man who worked his way from an Army commander to the first President of the United States. This is volume three out of five.