Washington Irving Washington Irving was an American writer, the first American author to achieve international fame, who created the fictional characters Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane. The strict acceptance and standing popularity of Irving's tales involving these characters proved the effectiveness of the short story in American literary form. Irving was born in New York City, Irving studied law at private schools. After serving in several law offices and traveling in Europe for his …showed first 75 words of 752 total…

…showed last 75 words of 752 total…Much of his work deals directly with English life and customs, and he never attempted to come to terms with the democratic American life of his time. But also American writers were encouraged by Irving's example to look beyond the United States for subject matter. Irving's other works include 'Bracebridge Hall' in (1822), 'Tales of a Traveller' in (1824), 'A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada' in (1829), 'Oliver Goldsmith' in (1849), and 'Life of Washington' (5 volumes, in 1855-1859).