The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is the classic Halloween story. It appears to be a ghost story, but is it?

It was published in 1819 and has some classic features of later horror stories and contemporary Gothic tropes.  

In summary, a hapless, awkward, greedy, and self-opinionated schoolmaster fancies he has a chance with the coquettish 18-year-old daughter of a local landowner. He wants to marry her as much for the monetary rewards and food as for her own charms. 

But this Ichabod Crane had to contend with a headless horseman in this earliest of spooky tales.

It's a book in itself, albeit a short one, and the tale is very well written by author Washington Irving, who injects wry humor and who clearly was a great observer of human character and failings. 

It was made into a scary movie by Tim Burton

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