| The first American writer to make his pen his primary means of support, Washington Irving rocketed to fame at the age of 26. In 1809 he published A History of New York under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker to great acclaim. The public's appetite for all things Irving was insatiable; his name alone guaranteed sales. At the time, he was one of the most famous men in the world, a friend of Dickens, Hawthorne, and Longfellow, as well as Astor, van Buren, and Madison. But his sparkling public persona was only one side of this gentleman author.
"Charming." -- New York Times
"The definitive Irving biography for the current generation." -- Providence Journal
"A fine biography -- engaging, clearly written and well researched, full of material that is likely to be unfamiliar to most modern readers." -- Washington Post
"Authoritative." -- Associated Press
"Required Reading." -- New York Post
"Recommended." -- Library Journal
"A pleasure to read and belongs in the library of any serious student of the United States' engagement with the world" -- Foreign Affairs |
| Americana
, Biography
, Educational
, Film/Cinema/Stage
, Government/Politics
, History
, Humor
, Other
, Scholarly
, Travel
|
