Rip Van Winkle’s Republic

“The preeminent American writer of his day, Washington Irving remained popular into the early twentieth century before changing tastes and contexts diminished his appeal. This volume, marking the bicentennial of Irving’s The Sketch Book, helps explain why his writings mattered in the early republic, how they found their way into other media, and why they remain relevant. Those interested in Irving will find much to enjoy, and the quality of the writing makes the book enjoyable for specialists and nonspecialists alike.” ~Scott E. Casper, president of the American Antiquarian Society and author of Constructing American Lives: Biography and Culture in Nineteenth-Century America

“This interdisciplinary collection of ten essays, initially intended for a conference scuttled by COVID, examines Washington Irving (1783–1859) as both producer and product of American historical consciousness. . . . what emerges is an intriguing account of how Irving established himself as the first internationally recognized US literary celebrity, someone whose “fan base rivaled Lord Byron’s.” ~Choice

“The essays individually of­fer meaningful insights and avenues, and col­lectively they cover significant ground, speak­ing to issues of nationality, class, and race, as well as issues of time and memory. . . . the va­riety of topics, approaches, and voices, along with an accessible conversational tone, make the book an inviting resource that could en­gage a range of audiences.” ~Journal of American History