Tales of the Alhambra

Zusatztext

Wander through echoing courts and jasmine-scented halls, where the whisper of Moorish kings still lingers in the painted air. In Tales of the Alhambra, Washington Irving invites the reader not into mere history, but into a waking dream of Spain¿a place where stone lions keep watery vigil and forgotten soldiers pace moonlit corridors. These stories, part legend, part keen observation, ripple with the mystery of vanished empires and the quiet wonder of a traveler who listens closely. With a touch of dry humor and a pen dipped in the warm ochres and shadowed blues of Granada, Irving captures the Alhambra not as it is, but as it nearly might be¿forever shimmering between truth and tale. Contents ¿ Preface to the Revised Edition ¿ Palace of the Alhambra ¿ Inhabitants of the Alhambra ¿ Alhamar, the Founder of the Alhambra ¿ Yusef Abul Hagig, the Finisher of the Alhambra ¿ Public Fêtes of Granada ¿ Local Traditions ¿ Legend of the Arabian Astrologer ¿ Legend of Prince Ahmed al Kamel or, The Pilgrim of Love ¿ Legend of the Moor's Legacy ¿ Legend of the Three Beautiful Princesses ¿ Legend of the Rose of the Alhambra ¿ Legend of the Two Discreet Statues ¿ Legend of Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa ¿ The Legend of the Enchanted Soldier ¿ The Author's Farewell to Granada

Autorenportrait

Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 ¿ November 28, 1859) was one of the first American writers to achieve lasting fame both in the United States and abroad. He is best remembered for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, stories that combined gentle satire, gothic mystery, and a deep love of folklore. Born in New York City, the youngest of eleven children, Irving was named after George Washington, whom he once met as a child. He trained as a lawyer but found his passion in travel and writing. He lived for many years in Europe¿especially in England and Spain¿where he served as a diplomat and immersed himself in the cultures that would inspire much of his writing. It was during his time in Granada that Irving lived for several months in the palace of the Alhambra, wandering its abandoned halls, listening to local legends, and recording its fading beauty. Tales of the Alhambra grew out of that sojourn¿a vivid blend of travelogue, reflection, and myth that revealed his gift for turning history into living story. Irving never married. He once fell in love with Matilda Hoffman, who died young; he mourned her for the rest of his life and remained devoted to her memory. Later in life, he returned to New York and settled at his estate, Sunnyside, along the Hudson River. He continued writing well into his seventies. He died peacefully at home at the age of 76 and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, near the landscape he helped make legendary. Irving's legacy lives on in the humor, grace, and quiet eeriness of his stories¿tales that still speak to the imagination centuries later.

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