Washington Irving was widely considered a successful writer beginning in 1819–1820 , when his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. was published and made him a literary star in both the United States and England.

Quick Scoop: The Moment of “Success”

  • Irving had already had a local/commercial hit with the satirical A History of New York (1809), which gave him early recognition in New York literary circles.
  • His true breakthrough to international fame came with The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (serialized 1819–1820), which included “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
  • These stories were immediately popular and established him as a major author on both sides of the Atlantic, often called the “first American man of letters.”

So, if you’re looking for the point at which people clearly saw him as a successful, professional writer, around 1819–1820 is the key window, thanks to the runaway success of The Sketch Book.

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