BOOK REVIEW

Washington Irving was born in New York City in 1793. He was America's first literary celebrity, and he was widely read throughout both Europe and America. Although remembered today for his two most celebrated works, "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Irving accomplished much, much more.

In addition to writing the first significant biographies of both Christopher Columbus and George Washington, Irving popularized old St. Nicholas and is credited with establishing the customs of our Christmas holiday. He was admitted to the bar, named an ambassador to Spain, and met or befriended at least eight of the first 14 U.S. presidents. He was the first American to earn his living as an author.

In a crisply written new biography, acclaimed historian Andrew Burstein tells the full and complete story of this lost literary giant. In addition to inventing the short story, Irving was a serious historian and influenced such literary heavy hitters as Edgar Allen Poe, Henry James and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

According to Burstein, Irving's deft use of language delighted readers of the Romantic age and helped legitimize other American writers that followed in his wake.

With a historian's eye for detail and significance, "The Original Knickerbocker" humanizes this complex man and documents how he helped shape both the politics and culture of his era. He was, Burstein says, both an American original and a citizen of the world. Two hundred years after Irving became a household name in this country, this meticulously researched biography makes it possible to rediscover this incredible genius. ¦

Books reviewed in this column are available online or at your local bookstore.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.