The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Washington Irving (1783-1859)
Irving's thrilling tale continues to haunt the imaginations of readers and audiences more than a century after its first publication. With Irving's companion piece Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is among the earliest examples of American fiction still read today.
The Legend finds roots in traditional German folk tales and draws upon the real life surroundings of its author. Irving actually lived in Tarrytown, New York and, upon his death in 1859, was buried in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery.
Several characters from the Legend appear to be based on local residents known to Irving. The final chase of the fictional tale, in which the Headless Horseman hunts the hepless Ichabod Crane, is set at the bridge of the Old Dutch Burying Ground (see photo) in Sleepy Hollow.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow follows a tradition of folk tales and poems involving a supernatural wild chase, including Burns' Tam O' Shanter (1790) and Bürger's The Wild Huntsman (1796). Although scores of film and stage productions recreate the ghostly tale, none of them take full advantage of Irving's talent as master storyteller. The Stories in Concert™ production focuses on Irving's original words supplemented by music, theater and festival – allowing for a complete story experience.
Read the original story (MS Word .doc)
