I Started Reading the "Original Knickerbocker" Last Night..

So far so good (about page 60) once complaint - because I think it sets the tone of the book. He relates a famous incident when Irving was a boy. His Scottish maid saw George Washington (yes that is why Washington Irving was thus named) in an apothecary shop. She proudly introduced young Irving to the new President, and G. Washington patted him on the head.

The author writes about this - but skips the anecdote that Irving told the rest of his life - that pat on the head was the reason for his bald spot. A small detail but it gives a keen insight into Irving's merry disposition and imagination. To me its an indicator the author doesn't 'get' Irving..unless of course he was unaware of this.

Will report on the rest of the book when I am done...