20 



Indiana University Studies 



as it were, masterpieces of grace, sensibility, and style" ''It is one 

 of the best works that have come from his pen";^^ ''It is his master- 

 piece".^^ 



The favorite sketch in the collection is "Rip Van Winkle". M. 

 Haussaire styles it "that little masterpiece of imagination" (p. 131), 

 while M. de Gourmont declares that "Irving has never been more 

 successful than in 'Rip Van Winkle' " (p. 10). "The Legend of Sleepy 

 Hollow" is also singled out for special praise. It is a "fanciful sketch 

 of irresistible humor ... as amusing as a tale from the Arabian 

 Nights''.^'' In the judgment of "E. D.", "Stratford-on-Avon", 

 '^The Country Church", and "The Widow and Her Son" are the most 

 distinguished portions of this book (p. 523). 



The Alhambra has also been much admired. M. Eyma even asserts 

 that the book is a "masterpiece" (p. 676), while M. Sedley claims that 

 "these tales are as interesting as the fairy tales of our childhood" 

 (p. xv), and M. Fontaney that "Washington Irving excels in tab- 

 leaux de genre and that the Alhambra is a gallery of pictures of this 

 kind (p. 517). 



Of the Tales of a Traveler it has been said that this book is a "series 

 of charming sketches", that it "should be classed among his most 

 pleasing works", and that "it is a model of thought and style". 



Concerning Bracebridge Hall, there is a difference of opinion. 

 Eyma, Chasles, and Haussaire speak well of it, while "E. D." declares 

 that "it is sometimes tiresome and never of a superior merit" (p. 522). 



As to the History of New York, the difference of opinion is still 

 more marked. Fontaney thinks it the "most witty and the most 

 piquant of his works" (p. 517). M. Barot calls it a "masterpiece of 

 humor", and M. Chasles ranks it with his "most pleasing works". 

 To offset these judgments we have the following: "The laughter in it 

 is that of an author who is sure of success; there is something pro- 

 vincial in his self-assurance — he is the oracle of a small group. "^^ 

 "This satire is not very intelligible for us Europeans. ... Whatever 

 may be the size of the principal cities in America, they contain so few 

 people of culture that those who really are superior possess all the 



57 Eyma, 667. 



5" Julien, p. vii. 



59 OUife, p. xviii. 



"0 Haussaire, 13. 



61 Eyma, 668. 



C2 Chasles, Etudes, 48. 



63 Haussaire, 7. 



64 Litterature contemporaine en Angleterre (1874), 217. 



65 Etudes, 48. 



66 "E. v.". in Globe, 11827, p. 522, 



