Works

Washington by Pierre M. Irving. This comprehensive biographical collection reconstructs the life and correspondence of Washington Irving through a curated assembly of his letters, journals, and biographical materials. Compiled and edited by Irving's relative Pierre M. Irving, the work traces Irving's birth in 1783, his boyhood and education, his early travels in the Hudson Valley, and his formative years in New York and Europe. It follows his ascent as a literary figure—Salmagundi, Knickerbocker, and the Sketch Book—through the trials of war, financial strain, and artistic ambition. The narrative moves through his friendships with literary luminaries such as Scott, Moore, Campbell, and Jeffrey, and his experiences in Paris, London, Dresden, and other European cities, interwoven with vivid descriptions of art, theater, and politics of early 19th-century transatlantic culture. The volume includes an extensive collection of letters and excerpts that illuminate his creative processes, personal life, and the social milieu of the era. The work originally published in 1860, aims to present a faithful portrait of Irving’s life and times.