Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy HollowThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story is short, but it’s pretty good. The writing is clever and surprisingly witty, even today. It’s clear that the protagonist is not the famous "headless horseman”, but Icabod Crane; whether we are supposed to like him or despise him is less clear. He is described in terms at times contemptuous, at times in jest, at times making excuses for him. Maybe he is just a product of the times. Most likely the author intended him as a caricature. But in any case, the descriptions are great, and the setup is done slowly and carefully. Bear in mind that the story is pretty much just one short event; everything is in the setup. The only fault is how short it was!

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