The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

By Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a short story by American author Washington Irving. Along with Irving's companion piece "Rip Van Winkle", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is among the earliest examples of American fiction with enduring popularity.

The story is set in 1790 in the countryside around the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town (historical Tarrytown, New York), in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is renowned for its ghosts and the haunting atmosphere that pervades the imaginations of its inhabitants and visitors. The most infamous spectre in the Hollow is the Headless Horseman, said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during "some nameless battle" of the American Revolutionary War, and who "rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head". The "Legend" relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a lean, lanky and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Oct 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9783736801691

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

[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:

[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.

[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!

[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!

[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"!

[john257hopper · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I thought this would be a taut and short horror story, but two thirds of it was a dull recounting of Ichabod Crane's idiosyncrasies and his attempts to woo a local heiress. The actual encounter with the headless horseman is brief and, for me, totally lacking in any suspense. 1/5

[andyray_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's interesting how one sees a book that one has read before at the ages of 10, 22, and 40-something. Now at 64, I see clearly how Bram Bones pulled his trick on Ickobod Crane, leaving the field wide open for his marriage to the sweet baker of Dutch delights. What earns this book the five stars is the delicious descriptions of the 18th century Tappen Zee, Sing, Sing, Tarrytown area, which now are urban attachments to the greater Metropolitan New York area. We know the time this story takes place as they are still discussing the Revolutionary War, although methinks Irving's description is the rural scene about 50 to 100 years earlier. Whatever, Irving brings you right into Ichobod and Brum's and Katrina's lives and their culture, using what I choose to call "high omniscient" voice. This is a voice that knows everything and paints people's profiles for the reader. We know Ichobod Crane is a wonderful dancer and erudite scholar, but he also despises more than a touch of manual labor. He also wants Katrina for her dowry of the huge farm and its wealth, while the Dutch lad wants her for herself.

[rizeandshine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Irving is a master at setting a scene, with description, details and imagery. I loved this quote, "The revenue arising from his school was small, and would have been scarcely sufficient to furnish him with daily bread, for he was a huge feeder, and, though lank, had the dilating powers of an anaconda;..." There is this type of subtle wit throughout the story. Very enjoyable.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow]still has the power to connect readers with memories of the Revolutionary War era that lingered into the 19th century. Reduced to its essential elements, it's the story of a classic love triangle. Which suitor will the lovely Katrina Von Tussell choose – brawny bad boy Brom Bones or nerdy schoolmaster Ichabod Crane? It's what Washington Irving does with the story that makes it so much fun. His descriptions of Ichabod Crane's appearance*, the school room, food, Sleepy Hollow, and, of course, the Headless Horseman are so detailed that you can easily conjure up mental images. The undertone of sarcasm lets you know just how seriously to take the story. Other than some jarring racial stereotypes, the story holds up well almost 200 years later.*Speaking of Ichabod Crane's appearance, I wonder if Cooper might have borrowed from Irving in creating David Gamut's character in The Last of the Mohicans?

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was excited when my book club picked this because I am directing a play version right now. I have to say, I was rather disappointed. As there is no dialogue and Irving goes into such detail about everything, which is too much for a novella, the story drags and seems like nothing but exposition. The climax was lost in excess description.

[flamingrosedrakon · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a book that my sister and my four-year-old niece rather enjoyed but even though I am into the tall tales or early folk tales I just couldn't get into this particular one. Maybe I should have read this before "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" became one of those known throughout society in all its formats thus ensuring the plot was well given away before you even had a chance to read it. The author certainly does have a way of words and more or less ends up using them to fatten the book. He puts more efforts of describing a set table or the landscape about so that you aren't sure to be lost. If it wasn't for these lengthy discourses then we should surely not have this particular book to read. And it is sad to say that with such descriptions that he couldn't make his characters even better than what they were. Ichabod Crane whom so many praise as a hapless superstitious hero is a jerk past a jerk while the fair Katrina is truly not so fair. Instead as with most feminine portrayals of the time she tends to lean towards the coy hellcat instead of the virtuous daughter who stays out of trouble although both women are compared side by side. Then when it finally came down to that last chase Gunpowder let you down. He was suppose to have the Devil in his eye but instead ran from such a fiend whose headless state couldn't be recognized until he topped a hill. Really? Finally the ending after that despairing chase was a big letdown. No I won't spoil it but to go to such lengths since a fellow had vanished wouldn't have been too much. Then again it just may be what is done in those nice sheltered green harbors that the Dutch call home back in those far off hollows where fiends and goblins and witches dance before the masterful eye of the Headless Hessian.

[coach_of_alva · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tom Mison, who plays Ichabod Crane in the TV show I follow, reads the story of the unfortunate schoolmaster in the kind and tongue-in-cheek manner that Irving wrote it.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What marvelous descriptions that Washington Irving makes as he relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster from Connecticut who is teaching in Tarry Town, New York, and his encounter with the infamous "headless horseman." Irving is a master at describing the setting. He did enjoy writing rather long sentences in places. I enjoyed this revisit to a book read many years ago, realizing that I now had a much greater appreciation for Irving's writing. This is a story that would make a great read-aloud to upper elementary and middle school students. I read this on my Kindle with the 1992 Public Domain Books edition. This version had some formatting issues when diacritics were introduced into the text.

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

A nice story well told. The wording had me smiling throughout - especially trying to match the description of Ichabod Crane with Johnny Depp or the scene of various animals in pasture immediately followed by Ichabod's vision of the same animals as part of a sumptuous meal. Beyond the entertaining little tale weaving ghost stories with a rivalry about a young woman's heart, it gives a wonderful description of a rural small town community and it's protagonists. Too bad it is so short.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A classic ghost story that has been scaring children (and adults) for centuries. In the fertile valleys of the upper Hudson River lies a small port – Tarry Town. The villagers enjoy good health, fertile farms, and telling tales of ghosts, goblins, witches in their midst. Their schoolmaster is one Ichabod Crane, a tall, gangly fellow who also dabbles as the choir master. One of his musical pupils is the lovely Katrina Van Tassel, the only daughter of one of the wealthiest farmers. The schoolmaster feels he can win her over, but he has a formidable challenger in Brom Bones.

When Ichabod disappears after a party at the Van Tassel mansion, the whole valley is left to wonder what happened? Did he simply move on to another community? Was he spirited off by the Headless Horseman? Only a few clues are found, including his trampled hat, and no one, especially Brom Bones, is talking.

I remember being really scared by this story when I was a child. Reading it as an adult, I’m struck by the complexity of the language in this fairly simple story.

NOTE - I had posted this review when I first read the book, but when I went to look at it today (Feb 21, 2014), I found that it was posted under the GRAPHIC Novel. I definitely read the original version, not the graphic novel. I can only guess that at some point in time the GN edition was divided from the main edition and somehow my review got migrated in that fashion ...

[jillrhudy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this classic every October. This year I listened to it on audio. I never, never tire of this story. My favorite part is the part where Irving describes the sumptuous farm/kingdom of Baltus Van Tassel, with increasing warm wit, through the ravening eyes of Ichabod. I think of it dearly as Van Tassel Estate Revisited, and always sympathize wholeheartedly with Ichabod's pinings after Old Money, New England style--oh, and Katrina too.

[gbill_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Old books are like old people. A little fragile, a little faded, and perhaps about to fall apart, and yet having stories within which can still captivate, stories which have been poured out to others before you’ve come along to hold the very same pages, and which may pour out to others when you’re gone. Perhaps it’s only when one feels one’s own mortality that one feels this way, but is there any better symbol of the best of humanity passing down its history, knowledge, and culture from generation to generation, than a book? And of all books, any better representative of this than one which is old, having been in the library of unknown others before coming into one’s own?I found a connection not only to Northeastern America in the 18th century while reading ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’, but also to the fellow book lover who clipped the poem “Life or Death” by feminist/anarchist writer Voltairne de Cleyre out of the newspaper and included it in these pages for me to find decades later. With a front and back cover in this 1885 edition that appears to be alligator leather beginning to crack in places, and with the silk strings that bind the book together having been mostly snapped with age, it needed to be handled very carefully. Inside, however, I found Irving’s language beautiful, his characters iconic, and his story memorable. It’s really no wonder it’s been adapted in so many forms since 1820, and is a favorite at Halloween time. It’s the perfect short story, absolutely brilliant. The illustrations provided nice touches, particularly of the lovely Katrina van Tassel. ‘The Spectre Bridegroom’ was also included here and a teeny little less successful, but quite enjoyable nonetheless, featuring an ancient castle on the Rhine and love at first sight. Ah youth. Who can’t empathize? The mores might have been different (Katrina’s “provokingly short petticoat” displaying “the prettiest foot and ankle in the country round”), and life may have been simpler, but the feelings of love, jealousy, and fear of noises in the dark are the same. Am I reviewing the book or this edition? Or the beauty of books and humanity in general, having been swept up in some form of mystic reverie? Perhaps all of the above. Oh, and connection discovered to the last book I read, which was “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: Ichabod Crane’s love and mastery of Cotton Mather’s history of New England witchcraft.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those stories that needs to be savored. The words have a beautiful cadence that make for great material to be read aloud. The story itself is fun, with vivid characters and a bit of mystery. But I go back to it every now and then just to experience the beauty of the language.

[janemarieprice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It had been many years since I had read this wonderful story. I had forgotten how absolutely hilarious it is. Example: “he was a huge feeder, and, though lank, had the dilating powers of an anaconda.” Do not read on an empty stomach as there are many tantalizing descriptions of various food stuffs.

[theboylatham_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

4/10.

A short story about a schoolteacher and his encounter with a headless ghost rider. Pretty dull.

[death_by_papercut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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

[arkrayder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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

[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!

[la2bkk · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's difficult for me to categorize this work, although in retrospect its popularity surprises me. As a children's book on the supernatural, on some level it may strike a chord although the book's humor will be lost on the younger reader. As an adult book, its simplicity and lack of real suspense or horror left me unimpressed. All in all, a mildly interesting and nostalgic period piece.

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Many times, I have viewed the animated Disney version of this classic short story. The setting inspires mystery and foreboding. Irving presents a well-written and very descriptive story concerning the Dutch settlers to New York. The story hinges a little on jealousy and greed. Two men battle for the lovely and rich young lady, Katrina Van Tassel. Which will win the prize? The description of the early settlers and their beliefs and their life displays a people still dominated by superstition. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing one of the first truly American writers emerge and develop his craft, but also leaving a legacy of early America.

[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.

[carl_alves_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Already being familiar with the tale, there was nothing that was going to surprise me as far as the story goes. I was more interested in the quality of the writing and the author’s story telling ability. Unfortunately, although the writing is competent enough, the story is too long for its content. Basically, nothing happens until the last ten pages or so. The rest of the story is filler. It’s all backstory about Ichabod Crane, and although some of it was amusing, it was unnecessary to the story. There is basically enough content here to fill one episode of Twilight Zone.Ichabod Crane is somewhat amusing as a character, but at the same time isn’t someone who I would root for. He’s a bit wimpy for my taste, so when he meets his demise at the Horeseman’s hands, it didn’t bother me all that much. The description of the Horseman was pretty good, but I would have preferred more graphic details of his encounter with Crane. In the end, I found the story to be a bit disappointing. Not that it was bad, it was just overwritten and didn’t meet my expectations.Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth

[linenandprint · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Hmm... Not sure why this was such a hit. Other than giving me a longing for Fall back east, I don't get it.

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Worth reading for historical value as "America's first ghost story." Find an illustrated version to read to the kids around Halloween time.

[fmrox · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Classic story of the legend of sleepy hollow as written by Irving. The story is not as exciting as all of the movies. However, it was an enjoyable listed on a weekend road trip during the month of October.