Knickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 1

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By Listen TheBook Posted on May 31, 2023

In Category - Satire, Early Modern

Authors: Washington Irving In Year : 1809

Book Language: English

Audiobook: Knickerbocker's History of New York, Vol. 1

Introduction
The Author's Apology
Notices
Account of the Author
To the Public
Book I, Chapter I
Book I, Chapter II
Book I, Chapter III
Book I, Chapter IV
Book I, Chapter V
Book II, Chapter I
Book II, Chapter II
Book II, Chapter III
Book II, Chapter IV
Book II, Chapter V
Book II, Chapter VI
Book II, Chapter VII
Book II, Chapter VIII
Book II, Chapter IX
Book III, Chapter I
Book III, Chapter II
Book III, Chapter III
Book III, Chapter IV
Book III, Chapter V
Book III, Chapter VI
Book III, Chapter VII
Book III, Chapter VIII
Book III, Chapter IX
Book IV, Chapter I
Book IV, Chapter II
Book IV, Chapter III
Book IV, Chapter IV
Book IV, Chapter V

Washington Irving, an author, biographer, historian, and diplomat, completed his first major work, a satire of contemporary local history and politics entitled A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker in 1809. Prior to its publication, Irving started a promotional hoax (not unlike some modern-day publicity stunts?) by placing fake missing persons advertisements in local newspapers asking for help in locating Diedrich Knickerbocker. As a continuation of the hoax, Irving also published a notice purported to be written by the proprietor of the hotel where Knickerbocker was staying, in which he threatened to publish a manuscript “left behind” by Knickerbocker if the hotel bill was not paid. From “The Author’s Apology”: “The main object of my work, in fact, had a bearing wide from the sober aim of history, but one which, I trust, will meet with some indulgence from poetic minds. It was to embody the traditions of our city in an amusing form; to illustrate its local humors, customs and peculiarities; to clothe home scenes and places and familiar names with those imaginative and whimsical associations so seldom met with in our new country, but which live like charms and spells about the cities of the old world, binding the heart of the native inhabitant to his home.” - (Summary by lubee930 from the text and adapted from Wikipedia)