Washington Irving

American author. Born in 1783, he is considered the father of American literature. He studied law but soon abandoned the legal profession to pursue a career in literature. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, where he lived for about 17 years (1815-32). His work is characterized by a search for traditional, romantic, and picturesque elements. His style is gentle and humorous. His most well-known books are: "The Sketch Book" (1819), "A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus" (1828), and "The Life of George Washington" (1855). He passed away in 1859.