Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Our October Short Story/Novella read is Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, 61 pages or much less, published in 1819.

I really enjoyed re-reading this short story. I can still remember reading it as a little girl and thinking what happened??? as he moves the reader through his slumber.

Never read it before. A fine little story. I had expected more of a point in the end, but it was well written.

I liked this when I read it last week.

I am so glad this was chosen as the short read for this month. I read it in HIgh School so only had vague, grudging feelings about it. I really like this little story! It's funny and has a feel-good ending. I believe as a teen I resented the lay-about Rip, but now as an adult I envy his ability to fall asleep for twenty years and have all his worries just disappear!

This was one of the stories published in The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, so if you're having trouble finding a free edition at your favorite ebook store, look under that name.

Project Gutenberg
Librivox
Amazon.com

Sorry, I can't get Amazon.co.uk to load, so I can't hunt for a free edition on that site.

This is a library site of sorts with older books that were scanned in. This version has lovely black and white sketch illustrations.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?i...

I've got the audio-ebook from my library and will listen to it soon. I've never read anything from W Irving.
Odd fact: I remember that when I visited the Alhambra, an old moorish palace in Granada Spain, being told that Irving had gotten permission to spend about a month living in it. This inspired him to write a collection of essay and stories published as Tales of the Alhambra.

I expected a lot more to this really. I’d heard the story before but was a bit disappointed when I actually read it.

Carlo wrote: "I expected a lot more to this really. I’d heard the story before but was a bit disappointed when I actually read it."

I expected more too Carlo. I thought this was just okay.

George wrote: "I've got the audio-ebook from my library and will listen to it soon. I've never read anything from W Irving.
Odd fact: I remember that when I visited the Alhambra, an old moorish palace in Granada ..."

I absolutely 5-star loved The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by him George. This one fell flat for me but I'll still read more from Irving.

This was a fascinating story. I love the way fantasy and historical events are integrated, and the way the story is so lighthearted even during moments of suspense.

Poor wife though...did all the work and no one mourns her...
While
Rip Van Winkle just lazed about and miraculously woke up to find he was old and with no nagg8ng wife...

The story was Lol.I enjoyed reading it.

I have very fond memories of this story when I was a child. My sister and I owned an LP of Rip van Winkle which we listened to on a record player... remember those?!! Last year I read the story for the first time in ages and it was such fun for me - perhaps because it was so nostalgic? Whatever the reason, it was a pleasure. I've also read and loved The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

@George - I own a copy of Tales of the Alhambra which I have not yet read but look forward to taking a look one of these days :)

siriusedward wrote: "Poor wife though...did all the work and no one mourns her...
While
Rip Van Winkle just lazed about and miraculously woke up to find he was old and with no nagg8ng wife...

The story was Lol.I enjo..."

I always considered the wife as a nag when I listened to this as a kid, but now I can better understand the poor woman's point of view, lol!! I have been known to call my husband Rip from time to time... in a joking manner, of course!

Candi, I had an LP of Rumplestiltskin that I was enchanted by as a kid. Weaving straw into gold … I always get this confused with Rip Van Winkle. I wonder if both stories were on the same record? I remember somebody sleeping for years and years. :-)

I haven't read either story, but plan to read Rip Van Winkle soon. Glad to hear most of you are enjoying it.

Kathleen, that sounds very familiar - perhaps they were on the same record! I'll have to ask my sister if she can recall next time I talk to her :)

I was a little disappointed in this one. I think my childhood memories (including of my father's embellished bedtime story version) overshadowed it for me. I could relate to losing 20 years in the blink of an eye though--sometimes it seems like that!

How interesting Kathleen. I have wondered if Rip Van Winkle were a New World Dutch folktale. If there is a bit or two of your father's version you might like to share, I would like to hear it and perhaps others here would. No pressure. Just in case you would like to tell and just need a little invite--that's all.

It does seem sometimes, as if time passed so quickly,doesn't it?

to George (and anyone else interested)
I am surprised too! I have been reading What Is La Hispanidad?: A Conversation (Roughly: What is the experience of being Hispanic) by Ilan Stavans. There I learn that a group of New Englander writers starting in first half of 19th century were particularly interested in the rise and fall of Empire, using Spanish Empire as an object lesson. Washington Irving was a leading writer of that group. Historical scholarship was in its infancy--apparently.

Oh, how nice, Cynda! Unfortunately I don't remember the details, just the feel of it. It was more the style he used to tell all the bedtime stories he would make up on the fly, usually about wizards and witches but sometimes incorporating tales like this.

He used to start every story with "Once upon a time, when the world was young and the frogs had long tails …" I just remember him exaggerating how long Rip's beard was, and maybe the way he imitated poor Mrs. Van Winkle. I feel quite sorry for her now, but don't suppose I did at the time. :-)

Kathleen that is wonderful. Richness of voice and choices of words can make a big difference. Loving " and the frogs had long tails". Thanks for sharing.

I enjoyed this story, and I also really enjoyed the illustrations by Arthur Rackham.

I did feel sorry for Dame Van Winkle, but I think that her husband's long sleep was the best thing that could have happened to everyone involved. He wasn't any use around the house anyway, so at least this way he wasn't around to annoy her, and he got to go straight to being an old man, which suits him much better. I had been hoping he would learn a lesson, but I liked it very much anyway. :)

George wrote: "Odd fact: I remember that when I visited the Alhambra, an old moorish palace in Granada Spain, being told that Irving had gotten permission to spend about a month living in it. This inspired him to write a collection of essay and stories published as Tales of the Alhambra."

I love learning odd facts like that. :) I'm gonna check out Tales of the Alhambra, too. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

Hi Kaylee. I also have the edition with Arthur Rackham’s illustrations. I think Rackham’s style pairs well with the story.

A 200 year old story with a simple plot, some humor and a well-drawn character and very well-told. I got some other stories with it and may read his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as well, this being the Halloween season. If any others have also read that, how did you like it?

George wrote: "A 200 year old story with a simple plot, some humor and a well-drawn character and very well-told. I got some other stories with it and may read his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as well..."

I actually like Rip Van Winkle more than the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Many people think of Legend of Sleepy Hollow as a horror story, but just as in Rip Van Winkle, there is a good bit of humor to be found. But honestly, if you like one you should like the other.

I like the humour in Legend of Sleepy Hollow too.
I also read the Rip van Winkle with the Arthur Rackham illustrations.
I like the names Irving gives to his characters. They suit the characters of his creations.

I am glad that a lot of people also mentioned how much they like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. That encouraged me to read it too, and I liked it very much!

I like it when that happens-- enjoying a book someone else recommends. The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow is really different from the movie version I saw.

It was good to read this again – it’s funny how I had such a different memory of it. For a moment there I was having a Rip VW moment :)

Now I'm hoping to read Legend of Sleepy Hollow I haven't got round to seeing the movie, just the trailers - I guess that doesn't count

Cynda loves cool cats wrote: "to George (and anyone else interested)
I am surprised too! I have been reading What Is La Hispanidad?: A Conversation (Roughly: What is the experience of being Hispanic) by [author:..."

That is interesting Cynda - thanks

Thanks for the link, Cynda.
:)

Read this a while ago. The illustrations add a lot to the life of the story. Washington Irving's stories read like well researched fairy tales. His Tales of the Alhambra however was better in my opinion.

George wrote: "A 200 year old story with a simple plot, some humor and a well-drawn character and very well-told. I got some other stories with it and may read his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as well..."

I definitely enjoyed it George - a great read!

As a kid, I had heard retellings of this story, and always assumed it was a fairy tale, rather than a short story written by a well-known American author! It was really fun getting to read the original version of the tale, which was a little different from what I remembered :)

If anyone wants or has questions about Irving, ask away. I work at Irving's home, Sunnyside. 😁

That sounds like a terrific job!

Tina that’s so great!

Tina wrote: "If anyone wants or has questions about Irving, ask away. I work at Irving's home, Sunnyside. 😁"

Oh .What do you do there,Tina?

I'm an Education Coordinator. I started out as a guide. I worked my way up the ladder. I basically coordinate school visits. I also teach during school programs and run after school programs at our 3 main education sites.

That sounds like a great job!

Tina wrote: "I'm an Education Coordinator. I started out as a guide. I worked my way up the ladder. I basically coordinate school visits. I also teach during school programs and run after school programs at our..."

Hi Tina, wow, that must be amazing.

I have a question. It might be a silly question but I was wondering after

I've read this and Sleepy Hollow, I noticed how both ended in a similar way, with an impression that maybe the story I had just read happened / it didn't happen.

If I've grasped that correctly - interesting as how that doubt adds another story layer that comes as a complete surprise.

My question: to leave the reader in doubt, is this Irving's style? And if so, I was just wondering why and how he wanted the reader to rcieve his story.

Inkspill wrote: "Tina wrote: "I'm an Education Coordinator. I started out as a guide. I worked my way up the ladder. I basically coordinate school visits. I also teach during school programs and run after school pr..."

Hi, Inkspill--

I don't know if this was his signature style or not, but I have a feeling that it was done on purpose to make the reader wonder--sort of like American "tall tales" which always leave you with the feeling that it might have happened. John Henry might have done all the feats attributed to him. Maybe Paul Bunyon really did exist. Maybe old Rip fell asleep in the mountains and returned 20 years later........

If you ever get the chance to visit the Hudson Valley and particularly, Storm King Mountain where the story is supposed to have taken place, you could see how ol'Rip fell asleep for that long. LOL

With Irving, one of the points we try to get across to visitors in regards to his writing is that he wanted to keep his readers guessing. He didn't write a definite ending to Legend. He wanted the reader to come up with their own ideas.

I think Rip is similar to Legend where he wants to suspend reality. Irving is writing when the United States is a "baby" country. We had no sense of culture or an identity. In writing the Sketchbook and particularly the Hudson Valley tales, he's giving a very young nation a sense of history and identity. (this part is taken directly from the tour I give when folks visit Sunnyside :) ). I don't know if this answers your question to your satisfaction, but it's how I see Irving and his writing.

Emmy wrote: "II don't know if this was his signature style or not, but I have a feeling that it was done on purpose to make the reader wonder--sort of like American "tall tales" which always leave you with the feeling that it might have happened. John Henry might have done all the feats attributed to him. Maybe Paul Bunyon really did exist. Maybe old Rip fell asleep in the mountains and returned 20 years later......."

Oh, good to know - I liked it, made the story more interesting for me, it certainly got my attention

Tina wrote: "If you ever get the chance to visit the Hudson Valley and particularly, Storm King Mountain where the story is supposed to have taken place, you could see how ol'Rip fell asleep for that long. LOL
..."

Wow - that's so neat. I will keep it in mind, thanks.