'There is nothing like the silence and loneliness of night to bring dark shadows over the brightest mind.'
First published in 1820, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, an entertaining blend of comedy, romance and horror, became an instant classic and is one of America's earliest and most enduring short stories.
Itinerant schoolmaster Ichabod Crane comes to ply his trade in the quiet countryside near Tarry Town and falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. But her hand is also sought by local hero Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt who wages a war of pranks and practical jokes against the quirky outsider, who has become fascinated by the local folklore and spooky tales. Late one night, Crane finds himself on one of the most famous rides in literary history, accompanied by a spectral figure reputed to be a ghost searcing for his missing head… and is never seen again. The result of a prank? Or something far more sinister? You could cut this bit if you don't want to reveal the ending!
Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American author, essayist, biographer, historian and diplomat who was one of the first American writers to find fame in Europe. He wrote numerous works but is best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, which have been called the first American short stories.
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