OLD CHRISTMAS (Illustrated) (ePub)

Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat, recognized as one of the first to earn acclaim as an American writer on the international stage. His delightful blend of humor and pathos, along with his innovative use of pseudonyms and fictional narrators, has secured his position as a seminal figure in the development of American literature. A foremost figure in American literary romanticism, Irving is best known for 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and 'Rip Van Winkle', both of which appear in his collection 'The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.'. 'Old Christmas' is another feather in his cap; it offers a richly illustrated journey into the traditional celebrations of Yuletide. The work is a nostalgic recollection of old British festivities surrounding Christmas, evoking imagery of warm hearths and genial merrymaking, and has contributed to revitalizing the Christmas holiday in America and England. Irving's style is characterized by his inventive reimagining of popular myths and European folklore within a New World context, a fusion that often explores contrasts between the innocent past and a present fraught with both skepticism and possibility. His writing exerted a profound influence on American culture and literature, paving the way for future generations of writers.