Washington Irving (1783 - 1859) was an American author known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Irving was also an essayist, historian and biographer. Irving was the first American writer to gain fame in Europe. Irving achieved international fame with the publication of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon in 1819. Irving used the pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon on several occasions. Selections in this collection include Chronicle of Wolfert's Roost, Sleepy Hollow, Birds of Spring, Recollections of the Alhambra, Abencerrage, Enchanted Island, Adelantado of the Seven Cities, National Nomenclature, Desultory Thoughts on Criticism, Spanish Romance, Legend of Don Muio Sancho de Hinojosa, Communipaw, Conspiracy of the Cocked Hats, Legend of Communipaw, The Bermudas, Pelayo and the Merchant's Daughter, Knight of Malta, Legend of the Engulphed Convent, Count Van Horn Wolfert's Roost, and miscellanies.,