The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving-80 pages

⭐⭐⭐

This is the classic tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Ichabod is a poor school teacher (pedagogue as Irving calls him) who aspires to woo Katrina Van Tassel and potentially inherit her father's wealth. However, there's a rival suitor nicknamed "Brom Bones" who is described as a rantipole (I had to look that word up and it means rowdy/wild/reckless) hero. Brom Bones and his gang likes to play practical jokes on Ichabod. One of the legends told in Sleepy Hollow is of a Headless Hessian Horseman who rides at night. One night after his affections were possibly spurned by young Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod rides hard and fast away from her family's farm estate. He rides into the woods past the area where the Headless Horseman has been seen before. A solitary aloof rider is still a little ways down the road. After a few moments, the rider chases him and Ichabod tries to escape. However, he realized it's the Headless Horseman and as Ichabod seemingly nears escape the Headless Horseman throws his head at him and hits Ichabod in the head. Ichabod is never heard from again in Sleepy Hollow and all that's found is a smashed pumpkin and a few of his effects. Was it really the Headless Horseman or was it Brom Bones playing another practical joke?? 

I could definitely tell this was first written and published in 1820 by the language used. In addition to rantipole mentioned above words such as higgledy-piggledy (arranged in a confused/confusing manner), niggardly (boring), coquette, and negro are all used mostly as adjectives or nouns. Irving spends quite a few pages describing Sleepy Hollow, Tarry Town, and their inhabitants, especially Ichabod Crane. Very few pages are actually spent describing Ichabod's encounter with the Headless Horseman. Overall, I thought the book was okay. I actually prefer the movie "Sleepy Hollow" with Johnny Depp and so many other great actors/actresses. It takes the premise of the Headless Hessian Horseman and turns it into a paranormal mystery with elements of horror.