Old Christmas: from the Sketch Book of Washington Irving

By Washington Irving

This is a beautifully illustrated book the aim of which is to recreate the feel of English Christmases of old. The author was a famous American writer who collected together many Christmas traditions and wrote them down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Nov 21, 2019
• ISBN: 4057664655813

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.

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Washington Irving

Old Christmas: from the Sketch Book of Washington Irving

Published by Good Press, 2022

[e-mail]

EAN 4057664655813

Table of Contents

Old Christmas

FROM THE

Sketch Book of Washington Irving. Illustrated by R Caldecott

THE STAGE COACH

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS DAY

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER

Old Christmas:

Table of Contents

FROM THE

Table of Contents

Sketch Book

of

Washington Irving.

Illustrated by

R Caldecott

Table of Contents

London.

Macmillan & Co

1886

Hue and Cry after Christmas

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PREFACE

Before the remembrance of the good old times, so fast passing, should have entirely passed away, the present artist, R. Caldecott, and engraver, James D. Cooper, planned to illustrate Washington Irving's Old Christmas in this manner. Their primary idea was to carry out the principle of the Sketch Book, by incorporating the designs with the text. Throughout they have worked together and con amore. With what success the public must decide.

November

1875.

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CONTENTSFood

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

DESIGNED BY RANDOLPH CALDECOTT,

AND

ARRANGED AND ENGRAVED BY J. D. COOPER.

Men carrying greens

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CHRISTMASA man might then behold

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CHRISTMAST

here is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games of former times. They recall the pictures my fancy used to draw in the May morning of life, when as yet I only knew the world through books, and believed it to be all that poets had painted it; and they bring with them the flavour of those honest days of yore, in which, perhaps with equal fallacy, I am apt to think the world was more home-bred, social, and joyous than at present. I regret to say that they are daily growing more and more faint, being gradually worn away by time, but still more obliterated by modern fashion. They resemble those picturesque morsels of Gothic architecture which we see crumbling in various parts of the country, partly dilapidated by the waste of ages, and partly lost in the additions and alterations of latter days. Poetry, however, clings with cherishing fondness about the rural game and holiday revel, from which it has derived so many of its themes—as the ivy winds