The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume B: 1820-1865
Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
The other night the gf and I had the marvelous idea of reading to each other, and took turns reading out Washington Irving’s classic, Rip van Winkle. It is an excellent length for this purpose and has a tongue-in-cheek humor that shows brilliantly when read aloud. It is one of those stories that many know without having actually read, and I urge those familiar only with the skeleton to spend some time with the original. I cannot guess how many children’s versions I read before ever learning Washington Irving’s name (and it is a such fine, fine name. Isn’t this portrait positively august?).
I love so many of the American authors from that time period, Hawthorne, Melville, Poe…and Stephen Crane is of a later era but seems reminiscent of this early American style (Norton American Anthology B early…not Norton American Anthology A early.) I remember loving this section of my American lit survey course – because there is something of the legend in these stories? They are the fairy tales of America; fantastic and just as dark as their historic equivalents. You know that I wouldn’t begrudge anyone gothic influences.
[Speaking of gothic influences, I only yesterday realized the phenomenal wrought iron light fixtures on the Copley Square side of the Boston Public Library…I lament the passing of ornate spikes from architectural vogue afresh.]
