Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


SleepyHollowThanks to Andrea Lam of Viking/Penguin Books, I am giving away one print copy of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’, just in time for Halloween.

Book Description:

Perhaps the marker of a true mythos is when the stories themselves overshadow their creator. Originally published under a pseudonym as The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OTHER STORIES (A Penguin Classics Original; On-sale date: September 30, 2014; $11.00) gave America its own haunted mythology. This new collection of larger-than-life tales contains Washington Irving’s best-known literary inventions—Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman, and Rip Van Winkle—that continue to capture our imaginations today, and features an introduction and notes by Elizabeth L. Bradley, author of Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York and literary consultant to Historic Hudson Valley, the caretakers of Irving’s Tarrytown, New York home.

The setting of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is renowned for the supernaturalism that pervades the imaginations of its inhabitants and visitors. The most infamous specter in the Hollow is the Headless Horseman, said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during the American Revolutionary War, and who “rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.” The “Legend” relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with townsman Abraham Van Brunt for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel. Crane sees marriage to Katrina as a means of procuring Van Tassel’s extravagant wealth. Bones, the local hero, vies with Ichabod for Katrina’s hand, playing a series of pranks on the jittery schoolmaster, and the fate of Sleepy Hollow’s fortune weighs in the balance for some time. The tension among the three is soon brought to a head.

About Washington Irving:WI

WASHINGTON IRVING (1783–1859) is generally credited with being the father of the American short story and was the first American writer to achieve international renown. He debuted in 1802 with a series of observational letters to the Morning Chronicle, and is best known for his short stories Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  He has written several historical works covering figures such as George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

About Elizabeth L. Bradley:

ELIZABETH L. BRADLEY, the author of Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York, serves as literary consultant to Historic Hudson Valley, the caretakers of Sunnyside—Irving’s Tarrytown, New York, home. She also wrote the introduction and notes for the Penguin Classics edition of Irving’s A History of New York.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada and ends on October 18, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 29, 2010
Posted in Books Read B/4 2007ClassicsHistorical Fiction  | 10 Comments

 
There were a few books that I contimplated using for the letter “D” in this challenge but I finally decide to go with a classic.
I read The Picture of Dorian Gray back in 2005, before my blogging days, with my Classics reading club on Yahoo.  The story has stuck with me all of this time.  Sometimes I’ll see something or think of something that makes me think of this book.
For those of you who don’t know the basic story, Dorian Gray is very vain.  He looks at himself in the mirror a lot and admires his handsome looks.  He has wishes never to age and his wish comes true.  However the portrait of him does age.  It is a reminder of Dorian’s ugliness on the inside.
I really enjoyed this story for the era and the mannerisms of the characters.  Wilde captured a time when social etiquette was everything.  With the importance that society puts on beauty, this story is still very relevant today.  I also enjoyed Wilde’s beautiful prose.  I can certainly see why this book has stood the test of time and is considered a great classic.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 26, 2009
Posted in ClassicsEdith WhartonHistorical Fiction  | 21 Comments

 

I scoured my already read list trying decide which book to choose for the letter “A” and it was tough going for awhile.  I thought of a couple a books and then thought, “darn, they are memoirs.  Historical, yes but not fiction.  Then I came up with two great contenders.  Then thought, I reviewed those just last year.  I know they would be acceptable but I was hoping to come up with something better and better, I did!
I read The Age of Innocence back in 2006, before I started my blog and before I started reviewing all the book I have read.  I did keep track of the books I read, with a spiral notebook and pen.  I included the Title, author, my rating, and a few scribbled thoughts.
I think The Age of Innocence deserves more from me.. so here it is.
I saw the movie when it first came out years ago.  I really loved it but didn’t think to read it.  Then a friend recommended the book to me.  She couldn’t believe I hadn’t read it.  She said, “you love the classics but you have never read The Age of Innocence?”  She was almost outraged.  LOL!  So I got a copy and read it.
Since it has been awhile since I read it, I am going to use the description on the back of the book for those of you who haven’t read it:

Into the narrow social world of New York in the 1870s comes Countess Ellen Olenska, surrounded by shocked whispers about her failed marriage to a rich Polish Count. A woman who leaves her husband can never be accepted in polite society. Newland Archer is engaged to young May Welland, but the beautiful and mysterious Countess needs his help. He becomes her friend and defender, but friendship with an unhappy, lonely woman is a dangerous path for a young man to follow – especially a young man who is soon to be married.

My thoughts:
I totally got lost in this sumptuous book.  I had no idea I was reading, as I became a character in the story.  It felt like I was witnessing first hand.  This book is a feast of words,  with biting humour and institutionalized hypocrisy of the upper-class late 19th century New York.  This is a must read for all historical fiction and classics lovers.

4.5/5


Also reviewed by:

Book-a-rama

Did I miss your review?  Please leave me your link in the comments. 


This post is also for Woman on Wednesdays (WOW).  Want to know about other excellent female authors or do you have any to share?  Go to West of Mars’ Rocks ‘n Reads every Wednesday and look for Susan’s WOW post.

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.