Irving Washington

LIFE OF WASHINGTON

1890rif. 35162New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. N.D. ca.1890. 4 volumes. From the handsome edition of Irving's Works published by Crowell. Each volume with an engraved frontispiece from various sources including portraits and views and with full-page portraits and maps throughout the four volumes titles in red and black. 8vo handomely bound in three-quarter tan calf over marbled paper covered boards the spines with raised bands gilt ruled the compartments with gilt tooled devices at the centers two compartments lettered in gilt on dark brown calf lettering labels endleaves marbled. 400; 400; 405; 423 pp. A fine and pleasing set unusually well preserved the bindings all in fine condition the hinges in excellent order tight and strong internally clean and crisp. AN EXCELLENT SET OF IRVING'S POPULAR BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON VERY ATTRACTIVE AND IN VERY FINE STATE OF PRESERVATION. The extensive biography of George Washington written by one of the most popular American authors of his time. Already very famous for his Sketch Book that brought to life such Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow by the 1850s Irving decided to write a biography of George Washington. In the mid-nineteenth century biography was an increasingly popular literary genre and the much-admired Washington was an ideal subject. Previous biographies of Washington had been written by Mason Locke Weems who invented the cherry tree myth and Chief Justice John Marshall but given Irving’s literary talent a biography of George Washington by him was extremely appealing to his publishers. In 1853 Irving began his research about Washington. He utilized two important sources—The Writings of George Washington and a series of George Washington’s letters acquired through the State Department. After two years of research Irving began writing his Washington biography at his home in Sunnyside New York. In his preface Irving explained that he had long wanted to write a biography of Washington though ill health as well as his many travels to Europe delayed the project. According to Irving he sought to write in a narrative style that also rigorously grounded itself in historical fact. Following historians and reviewers have argued that by exploring Washington’s military and personal life in a realistic manner Irving was able to transform him from a demigod figure into a human subject far more approachable and understandable to the average reader. The historian George Bancroft lauded Irving for writing both with the qualities of good historian and with narrative tone that made the events portrayed seem natural. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. hardcover

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