Works of Washington Irving
Bracebridge Hall
and
Wolfert's Roost
Published By George D. Sproul
New York
1899
The title-page is dated in Roman numerals, MDCCCXCIX , which is 1899.
Hardcover.
Original tan cloth binding with paper spine label.
Top page edge gilt.
Deckle page edges, fore and bottom.
Limited Edition , No. 928 of 1000.
5.75" x 8.25"
Bracebridge Hall : 310 pages.
Wolfert's Roost : 152 pages.
462 pages in total.
125 years old.
Two works by Washington Irving (1783-1859).
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Very Good Condition.
Just slight binding wear; very good condition.
The original paper spine label is still present.
( see the photos )
The hinges are tight.
No writing.
No markings.
The pages are clean and in very good condition.
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1. Bracebridge Hall
The sequel to his very successful " Old Christmas ," in Bracebridge Hall Washington Irving describes life in the English home of the early 1800s.
These essays are from the author's personal experiences, the location based loosely on Aston Hall, occupied by members of the Bracebridge family, near his Irving's sister's home in Birmingham , England.
Washington Irving traveled to England in 1815 and remained in Europe for the next 17 years.
This work first appeared in 1822.
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The Contents of Bracebridge Hall includes :
The Hall
Family Servants
Servants employed at Bracebridge Hall ; the Housekeeper ( who has a reputation in the village for being surprisingly wealthy for a housekeeper ), the old Butler ( who was formerly a footman ), the Housekeeper's Niece ( the " heiress-in-waiting " of her aunts supposed wealth ), etc.
The Widow, the Wives , the Lovers , Bachelors , etc.
The Widow's Retinue
Ready Money Jack
A local farmer with a reputation of being quite wealthy ; he wore silver buttons on his coat , silver buckles on his shoes , and kept a few guineas as watch chain ornaments - he clearly was out to impress the local villagers.
An Old Soldier , the Stout Gentleman , a Literary Antiquary , and other local characters.
Forest Trees ( and other matters of local interest )
The Farm House
A look inside the house of " Ready Money Jack " Tibbets .
Horsemanship , Falconry , and Hawking
Outdoor pursuits which the squire of the hall enjoyed.
St. Mark's Eve
This essay discusses several " Rural Superstitions ", including " corpse candles " - little wandering fires of pale blue light - which were sometimes seen at night by country people. Also, ghosts , departed spirits , and supernatural visitations
Gypsies
On occasion a particular band of roving gypsies would be seen in the vicinity of the hall ; called by the locals " Starlight Tom's Gang ," they had a reputation for poaching, etc., but the squire tolerated them, in general.
Fortune Telling
The author describes his experience in the gypsy camp , not far from the village. There among the camp-fires , the fiddle music , and the makeshift tents , he & his companion found a gyspy girl who offered to tell their fortune - for " a good piece of silver ," of course.
" Love Symptoms " , a Wedding, etc.
Love Charms
The local women took quite seriously the value of " love charms " - including a magic spell they used for finding one's future husband .
The Library , The Student of Salamanca , a Village Politician , etc.
English Country Gentlemen , the School , the Schoolmaster , etc.
May Day and May Day Customs
The author describes the celebration and customs surrounding May Day in 19th century England .
Village Worthies ( various )
The Rookery
( Rooks , Birds )
Traveling
Thoughts on traveling ; Stage-coaches , Inns , etc.
Popular Superstitions
This chapter is on the belief in Fairies etc. in Britain , including : Goblins , Robin Goodfellow , Household Dobbies , Pugs or Hobgoblins .
With ways to protect the household from evil or mischievous spirits , etc.
Family Misfortunes , Lovers ' Troubles , etc.
The Haunted House
This describes a " haunted house " in America - New York in the 1600s.
The Storm Ship
A strange and mysterious event occurred in New York in the 1600's - a ship slowly sailed into view in the bay just as the sun set in stormy weather.
An arriving ship was cause for excitement in those early days, and Dutch settlers gathered in the harbor to greet the vessel.
But soon enough, the townsfolk began to realize that something was wrong. Hails were not answered. No sailor could be seen on board.
And someone pointed out that the ship was sailing against the wind, with full sail set.
The ship sailed on, up the ( Hudson ) river, disappearing from sight.
It made no port.
As time went on, however, sea captains and sloop sailors sometimes claimed to have seen the very same ship , slowly sailing the river.
Often it was seen by the flashing lightning of a thunderstorm on a dark night.
These events caused great consternation among the local people.
Other strange events associated with storms are described, including a fat-bottomed Goblin which riverboatmen sometimes would see , or strange impish little men who were sometimes spotted as a storm raged overhead.
Etc.
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2. Wolferts Roost
This is a collection of stories and essays which Washington Irving wrote for The Knickerbocker and other publications.
Includes :
A Chronicle of Wolfert's Roost
After Wolfert Acker (1667–1753) moved from New York City to Tarrytown, NY, he built a farm house , later called "Wolfert's Roost."
Later, Washington Irving bought ten acres of land with the farmhouse on it and renamed it "Sunnyside".
"Wolfert's Roost" is the history of this house (which he called " Sunnyside ") and surroundings, and a glimpse into the history of the Dutch of New York.
Sleepy Hollow
Irving writes about the village of Sleepy Hollow , the real place that inspired Irving's " Legend of Sleepy Hollow ."
Reflections of the Alhambra ( Spain )
The Bermudas
An essay on a voyage home to America from England.
The Knight of Malta , The Grand Prior of Minorca
On a tour which Irving made in Sicily .
A Legend of Communipaw
A legend from the 17th century Dutch colony of New Amsterdam , before it was captured by the English and became New York.
The Enchanted Island and The Atalantado of the Seven Cities
An old legend of the 1400s, when Prince Henry of Portugal was promoting discoveries along the western coast of Africa. Thee were reports of golden regions on the main African land, and new-found islands on the African coast.
An old ship's pilot of the seas, driven by tempests and storms to places unknown ( and some said driven mad as well), who raved about an island on which he had landed, and which he had found peopled with Christians, and adorned with noble cities.
The inhabitants of the island told the sailor that they were descendants of a band of Christians who fled from Spain when that country was conquered by the Muslims centuries earlier.
This strange story caused great marvel in Lisbon and elsewhere.
Plus more, including :
The Legend of the Engulfed Convent
Count Van Horn
The Conspiracy of the Cocked Hats
Pelayo and the Merchant's Daughter
Etc.
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125 years old.
Limited Edition.
Carefully Packed for shipment to the buyer.