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Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” first appeared as part of the short story collection The Sketch Book, which was published in installments in 1819 and 1820
. Set in the postcolonial town of Sleepy Hollow, New York, this classic comedy-horror tale is considered one of the first American short stories. The popularity of The Sketch Book garnered Irving international acclaim and cemented his status as a professional writer. Since its publication, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has been adapted dozens of times for theater, television, and film, and the story remains a Halloween classic.Read the free full text, the full story summary, an in-depth character analysis of Ichabod Crane, and explanations of important quotes from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”