The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

"A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere." - Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow First published in 1820 as part of The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is Washington Irving's most enduring tale and one of the earliest classics of American literature. Set in the quiet Dutch settlement of Sleepy Hollow, the story follows the lanky schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, whose pursuit of the wealthy heiress Katrina Van Tassel brings him into conflict with the formidable Brom Bones-and into the path of the legendary Headless Horseman.

Blending folklore, humor, and Gothic suspense, Irving's tale captures the spirit of early America while drawing upon Old World ghost stories and New World superstition.

At once a ghostly legend, a satire of rural life, and a timeless story of love and rivalry, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has secured its place as one of the most famous short stories in the English language.

Essential for students of American literature, lovers of Gothic fiction, and readers of folklore, this story continues to enchant and haunt audiences more than two centuries after its first publication.