The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Classic Tales Edition

Written by Washington Irving

Narrated by B. J. Harrison

Here is the complete and unabridged tale of Ichabod Crane and his ill-fated visit to Sleepy Hollow.

Half of the charm of the tale is Irving's beautiful prose, as he describes the glorious New England countryside. But, of course, there are chills galore when the Headless Horseman appears.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.J. Harrison
• Release date: Oct 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781937091590

Washington Irving

Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American writer, historian and diplomat. Irving served as the American ambassador to Spain in 1840s, and was among the first American writers to earn acclaim in Europe. He argued that writing should be considered as a legitimate profession, and advocated for stronger laws to protect writers against copyright infringement. Irving’s love for adventure and drama influenced his work heavily. His most popular works, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, were inspired by his visit to the Catskill mountains. Irving is credited to have perfected the short story form, and inspired generations of American writer.

Reviews for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

[joririchardson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was my 3rd of the three Halloween 2010 reads.When pondering what three books to choose for Halloween this year and browsing through some online suggestions, I was almost surprised to realize that I hadn't read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" yet. I saw an animated film adaption as a child, and I know the story, but I hadn't read the actual book.After requesting it at the library, I was surprised to find how tiny it was. It is actually a short story, and the edition I read just managed to be 71 pages, with the help of large font.It is the story of a well liked schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane, in a small 1700's New York town. The town is rumored to be haunted, and despite his scholarly outlook on life, Ichabod himself can feel an unnerving presence in Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod falls in love with a beautiful rich girl named Miss Katrina von Tussell, who seems to return his affections. It is all too good to be true, but Ichabod's luck takes an unfortunate turn when he is riding home one night...Though I am glad that I finally read this well known little short story, I can't say that I was overly impressed.The book is just too short for the reader to ever get very invested, and the headless horseman (the part that everyone remembers) is only featured on a page or two. The rest of the plot, which is meant to build up toward the scene of Ichabod fleeing from the horseman in the woods, does not have very much to do with the ending. I felt that the book was pretty pointless, all in all. There were three plot elements: a) Schoolteacher and pretty rich girl fall in love. b) Jealous fighting man decides to make an enemy of schoolteacher. c) Schoolteacher meets a ghost in the woods at night and is never seen again.If I hadn't already known the story going into this book, I would have been thinking at the last point: "wait - what?!"Really, it has nothing to do with the plot before that.The descriptions of the town were pretty at times, despite Irving's apparent aversion for periods (some sentances lasted an entire page - the first sentence in the book certainly did). A very quick read due to its small size, but not a book that I will be buying.

[Joy Med · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nicely reas. Sound quality could be cleaner so as to sound more professional.

[Patrick Lennon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's wonderfully written. But it barely kept my attention. More interesting than entertaining.

[Kendra Ezell · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was well written,nd, since I've listen to the audio book, well read. That's about it. I felt like we had a long time to get to know Ichabod Crane and his love interest , and less time on the actual headless horsemen and their encounter\s.
Definitely didn't expect this very and now I feel like I'm missing something.

[jrissman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story about superstitions schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, who lives in the New York countryside in the late 1700s. While the well-known, culminating horseback ride may be the high point of the story, I found the portrayal of life in rural, early America and Ichabod's somewhat comedic character to be just as enjoyable.

[Rivka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The quality was good, but I found the story hard to follow as an audio book. The older English is difficult to fully appreciate unless you're very focused on listening.

[leslie398 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Narrated by Tom Mison.

This Audible freebie was a nice way to revisit this novella but I had some difficulty in concentrating on Mison's narration. I don't know whether it was the text, my mood, or his narration...

[amcheri-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I never had the occasion to read this story but picked it up on Audible a couple months ago. I liked it and am happy that I can now say that I've read (listened) to it.

[booknookretreat7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Been wanting to read this for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the story-telling and though it wasn't a typical horror story, it still had a descriptive atmosphere to the storyline. Giving it four stars.

[darthdeverell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a lovely little edition of Washington Irving’s classic story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Great for giving as a gift or adding to a child’s library of classics.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

In Sleepy Hollow schoolmaster Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt compete for the affections of rich Katrina Van Tassel, but the spirit of the Galloping Hessian must have its say.
Originally published in 1820.
Not really that interesting a read

[dzejncrvena · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I am sorry, but I have to say this book did not spook me in any way. I find it too dense. Good thing I don't know/watch its animated adaptation because I would be tempted to compare the plot and overall vibes of the story. Well, this is for people who like to read classic horror stories.

[equestrienne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't tell you how old I was when this story was first read to me, but I was very, very young and already had a keen interest in the paranormal. I do recall the library book my mother read the story from, it was an anthology of children's literature with Arthur Rackham illustrations.

It was required reading in my 8th grade English class, when I was reintroduced to the story. My teacher led classroom discussion and I think she made this an interesting literary work for our age group.

As an adult, I discovered this edition with the Arthur Rackham illustrations that I remembered and loved so well, so I purchased it for an addition to my personal library.

This week my six year old daughter brought home a library book of the Disney version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, so I just had to pull the Washington Irving version off the shelf and start reading it to her. So, this little literary gem has now come full circle in my own personal history......life is sweet.

(on a side note, I have watched the Tim Burton film, "Sleepy Hollow" and I must say it is best taken as an adjunct to the story, as it is so very different. The cinematography and art direction are excellent, it is a visually stunning film, but it certainly cannot be mistaken for a film version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")

[count_zero-837732 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Stick with the Disney animated version.

[elam11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For all the adaptations of this story, it was surprising to get into the original and realize how short and un-Horseman-focused it really is. It was very evocative of autumn; I love the descriptions of the landscape and foods.

Personally I'm inclined to take the more supernatural angle, considering its sibling tales.

[lydia1879 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really thought this was going to be creepier!

I read it on an app called Serial, as a way to wean myself constantly scrolling through social media while waiting for a bus or standing in the queue at the post office, and it definitely did that. I genuinely have no idea when I started this book (I made a rough guess) but it took a while to read because I only read in little pieces at a time.

I enjoyed how atmospheric this short story was and I found Irving's writing surprisingly readable for the time that it was published.

However, I felt like it was a lot of exposition. I got to know all the characters, a little at a time, the atmosphere was built up with a few mentions of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, and then when it finally got to that part of the book, I was a little let down.

I feel, in part, that it's because there have been so many adaptions of the story that tweak the story, that when I finished reading it, I didn't feel satisfied.

But the writing was satisfying to read and he did have a real rhythm. The names mentioned in the story itself are evocative enough -- Ichabod Crane, Baltus Van Tassel, Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, it's all great fun.

I was happy that I read it though, because I might not have ever gotten around to it if it hadn't been for serial.

Onto Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde now c:

[sprainedbrain · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read this story since high school, and got the Audible version just because it was narrated by Tom Mison. Irving's descriptions of the fall scenery, the food at the banquet, and most of all poor Ichabod are wonderfully and funny. I adore the voice of the 'historian' telling the story. For the most part, this isn't a scary story, but that night ride still gave me chills. Mison's narration is excellent!

[arkrayder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another nice re-read. Always loved The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. Would love more stories like this.

[death_by_papercut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very short & extremely fun. Mr. Irving has a great way with words.

[caanderson-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s a classic short read so worth the time to read again.

[caseybp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite ghost story of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beammey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is probably the best edition of Sleepy Hollow that I've read yet. The illustrations bring so much to the story and make it so much better. The story is one of my favorites and this is no exception. I would recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

[shahnareads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a pretty heavy book to read for a child. I don't know how I got through it. I was so little.

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this story is pretty entertaining. I like the open-ended mystery of it all.

[fionaliddle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lot funnier than I was anticipating.

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle are classics, and pretty awesome! The rest of this collection is fairly uneven, and not so awesome. Still, it's hard to complain too much about a book that contains two "immortal classics"!

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I meant to listen to this at Halloween. That didn't work, so I decided to listen to it now as I wanted something short. Let me start by saying Tom Mison does a brilliant job with the narration. His voice is so smooth and gorgeous to listen to. But that proved to be a double edged sword. It was so smooth and so gorgeous that combined with the expository nature of the first half of the book, he lulled me into zoning out several times during the beginning. But once we get to Ichabod's departure from van Tassel's farm, everything picks up and I had no trouble paying attention. Superbly written and superbly told.

[pennylane78 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've heard several tellings and re-tellings of this famous story, but reading the original was quite a treat. It's one of those books that I SWEAR I read at some point, but I'm never really sure because I've heard the story so many times, it's just ingrained in my brain. This is a great story! If you haven't read it, it's super short, you should definitely give it a try!

[stevierbrown · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well if I am honest about this, I felt predisposed to like Sleepy Hollow; it is wonderfully and genuinely of its time and place, with the era and location certainly having a romantic draw for me.
The story also evokes a very definite atmosphere and I think I read this at the right time of year, just two days before Hallowe’en.
But for such a slim text it takes a great deal of time to get to the crux of the story; around 80% of the book is taken up with introducing the characters and landscape where the action is to take place. This is all very important, but once the action has occurred the story simply ends. Now, it is a very strong ending but following such a great lead up to the ‘terrible events’ described I expected a great and slow finish rather than just a two-page epilogue.
But I did still love it!

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Audio- fun and spooky in audio. A short quick clasic