I.Early Fiction Washington Irving (1783-1859):His History of New York is supposedly an account of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan Island.With this work Irving furnished America with its first myth-hero,Father Knickerbocker.In "Rip Van Winkle"and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow",Irving focused on America's natural landscape and contributed even more memorable characters to his legendary recreation of the American past. He was among the first American writers to earn acclaim in Europe,and was also admired by some European writers, including Walter Scott,Lord Byron,and Charles Dickens. Irving encouraged American authors that followed him.I. Early Fiction • Washington Irving (1783-1859): His History of New York is supposedly an account of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan Island. With this work Irving furnished America with its first myth-hero, Father Knickerbocker. In “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, Irving focused on America’s natural landscape and contributed even more memorable characters to his legendary recreation of the American past. He was among the first American writers to earn acclaim in Europe, and was also admired by some European writers, including Walter Scott, Lord Byron, and Charles Dickens. Irving encouraged American authors that followed him