Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American author, essayist, biographer, and historian of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (1820), both of which appear in his collection "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." arly Works: Irving began his writing career with a series of satirical essays under the pseudonym Jonathan Oldstyle in 1802. "A History of New York": Published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, this book brought him immediate fame for its humorous and somewhat satirical take on New York's early history. European Influence: Irving spent 17 years living in Europe, where he served as a diplomat and continued his writing career. He produced several works based on his experiences and travels, such as "Bracebridge Hall" (1822) and "Tales of a Traveller" (1824). Biographies and Histories: He wrote biographies of figures such as Christopher Columbus and Muhammad and histories such as "The Alhambra" (1832). "The Life of George Washington": His multi-volume biography of George Washington, published from 1855 to 1859, is considered one of his major works. After returning to the United States, he settled in Tarrytown, New York, in a home he named Sunnyside, where he continued to write until his death.