Washington Irving Washington Irving was relatively quiet after his years of law school until he embarked on a seventeen year expedition through Europe in 1815. During his travels, he met he English writers who would be most influential on him and his writings. The group consisted of Joseph Addison, Oliver Goldsmith, and Sir Walter Scott. One of his earliest works was published under the pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon in 1819, The Sketch Book. Included in this work of …showed first 75 words of 312 total…

…showed last 75 words of 312 total…has to do with the new style of writing coming to America. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is read to children because it is a funny satirical story of a man who scorns the children he teaches, and it is likely that most kids can relate to the story. Irving is considered the first successful professional writer in America, and he was also the first American writer to win the respect of the British critics.