Nicholas’s Reviews > Washington Irving: An American Original > Status Update

Those letters of introductions sure do work a treat! The poet Thomas Campbell proved to be a pivotal character in launching Irving’s career. That first connection he made with publisher John Murray proved to be quite fruitful. (Having the anti-piracy plan didn’t hurt either) It seems chance favored the prepared mind with young Washington!

Dang, the guy experiences “idle habit and idle associates & fashionable dissipation” and then sets off for 17 YEARS ABROAD?!

So much for telling his mom he’d be back soon. 😳

Irving the party crasher. Of course with social skills like that, you should use them to your advantage. Kindred spirit.

Matilda. Knickerbocker. Newfound celebrity… AND he didn’t write again for 9 years after History of New York.

Irving was “a highly sought-after dinner guest and evening companion.”

Wow, the Lads of Kilkenny and Salmagundy. Mary Fairly the “declare belle” AND Burr’s trial in Virginia. Wild.

What a treat. Yet another book I found on the reshelving cart at DPL. Fascinating man, I am able to relate to many of his experiences, particularly dawdling and predilection for Law and love of stories & writing. Though he reluctantly chose law, as he was required to do SOMETHING semi-approved by his father The Deacon.