Irving (born in New York City in 1783) was clearly a "man of letters" if not the first to emerge from America. He invented an eccentric Dutch professor named Diedrich Knickerbocker as an author of "stories" of the Catskills and surrounds. Today New Yorkers still call themselves Knickerbockers, although now this appellation attaches to basketballers.
This volume contains numerous stories, including Rip Van Winkle, travels through New and old England, Christmas celebrations, accounts of Indians, and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
"The Moorish Chronicles" is a historical account of the invasion and occupation of Spain by the Moors. Irving relates the miracles -- for example, the prolongation of daylight at the request of Don Correa, and the gushing of water from a rock at the blow of his lance -- performed in the service of King Fernando the Saint, up to his death in 1242, at which time seraphic music as of angelic choirs were heard in all the royal alcazars of Seville. "When Alhamar, the Moorish King of Granada, heard of his death, he caused great demonstrations of mourning to be made throughout his dominions." [121] The Moors annually sent wax tapers to assist at the exequies of San Fernando until the reconquest of Granada by Fernando the Catholic, [two centuries later].