 Title page of the first edition | |
| Author | Washington Irving |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. No.1 |
| Illustrator | F. O. C. Darley |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Sketch Book |
| Publisher | C. S. Van Winkle (USA) |
Publication date | June 23, 1819–July 1820 |
| Publication place | United States |
Published in English | June 23, 1819 |
| Media type | Hardback, 2 vols. & Paperback, 7 installments |
| Pages | 392 |
| ISBN | 0-940450-14-3 (reprint) |
| OCLC | 9412147 |
| 818/.209 19 | |
| LC Class | PS2052 1983 |
| Preceded by | A History of New York |
| Followed by | Bracebridge Hall |
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., commonly referred to as The Sketch Book, is a collection of 34 essays and short stories written by the American author Washington Irving. It was published serially throughout 1819 and 1820. The collection includes two of Irving's best-known stories, attributed to the fictional Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". It also marks Irving's first use of the pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon, which he would continue to employ throughout his literary career.
The Sketch Book, along with James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, was among the first widely read works of American literature in Britain and Europe. It also helped advance the reputation of American writers with an international audience.