Washington Irving was the first native American to succeed as a professional writer. He remains important as a pioneer in American humor and the development of the short story. Irving was greatly admired and imitated in the 19th century. Toward the end of his career, his reputation declined due to the sentimentality and excessive gentility of much of his work ("Irving" 479). Washington Irving's time spent in the Hudson Valley and abroad contributed to his writing …showed first 75 words of 969 total…

…showed last 75 words of 969 total…writings was his use of folklore to make dynamic classics. In three distinct ways, Irving shows his knowledge of folklore. First, there is his portrayal of ghosts; second, his accounts of the elaborate rules surrounding the successful discovery of buried treasure and third, his use of local legends as basis for the tales (Rodes 247). In conclusion, Washington Irving's time spent studying local folklore made his short stories seem more realistic to readers of all kinds.