Rip Van Winkle is a short story by American author Washington Irving published in 1819; throughout the story Rip Van Winkle, Washington Irving relies heavily on the use of description in regards to both nature and characters. These aspects are highlighted by Arthur Rackham, one of the premier illustrators of the early 20th Century. Included are explanatory Notes by E. M. BIGG, M.A., Head Master, High School, Parkhill. Rip Van Winkle wanders off one day with his dog Wolf into the Kaatskill mountains where he runs into an odd group of men drinking and playing ninepins. He drinks some of their mysterious brew and passes out. When he wakes up under a tree he is astonished to find that 20 years have passed and things are a lot different.