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The Washington Irving Library

The Washington Irving Library

By: Washington Irving
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About this listen

 Welcome, kind listener, to The Washington Irving Library - a quiet corner of the modern world where old tales wander freely once more. Here are gathered the sketches, legends, and curious histories of America’s earliest storyteller, read in full and unhurried, as though beside a hearth on an autumn evening.

From the misty hollows of the Hudson Valley to the rambling pages of forgotten journals, each episode invites you to linger awhile in the company of dreamers, schoolmasters, travellers, and ghosts both merry and melancholy. This library stands ever open, its lamp lit, its pages turning, and its stories ready to be heard anew.Public domain
Episodes
  • Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter V

    Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter V
    Apr 17 2026
    In which a hapless band of settlers, dispersed by tempest and misfortune, encounter trials of land and sea yet find solace in a humble feast of oysters, marking the dawn of a celebrated local custom. Amidst mirth and gumption, their leader Oloffe Van Kortlandt dreams a wondrous vision involving the venerable St. Nicholas, which inspires a hopeful resolution to build a city, though tempered by a cautious voice among them.
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    10 mins
  • Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter VI

    Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter VI
    Apr 17 2026
    In which the narrator muses upon the uncertain origins and various quaint etymologies of the island now known as Manhattan, weaving together both learned conjecture and amusing legend with a gentle wit. The tale reflects on the mutable nature of names and the colourful impressions of early settlers and native tribes alike, casting the island as a place of delight, mystery, and jovial camaraderie.
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    5 mins
  • Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter III

    Knickerbocker's History of New York Vol. 1 Book II Chapter III
    Apr 16 2026
    In which the early Dutch settlers at Communipaw foster a curious and amiable commerce with the neighboring Indians, their quaint customs and honest trade marking the humble beginnings of Nieuw Nederlandts amidst a landscape rugged yet hopeful. The narrative then follows the spirited counsel of the visionary Oloffe Van Kortlandt—dubbed the Dreamer—and his intrepid companions as they prepare to abandon their smoky refuge for new prospects in the vast unknown, guided by both dream and hearty resolve.
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    15 mins
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