Washington irving was America's first man of letters to be known internationally.His works were received enthussiastically both in England and in the United States. He was, in fact,one of the most succdessful writers of his time in either country, dilighting a large general public and at hte same time winning the admiration of fellow writers like Scott in Britain and Poe and Hawthorne in the United States.The respect in which he was held was partly owing to the man himself, with his warm friendliness his good sense, his urbanity , his gay spriits, his artisticintegrity ,his love of both the Old World and New. Thackeray described Irving as "a gentleman, who, though himself born in no very high sphere, was most finished,polished, witty; socially the equal of the most refined Europeans." In England he was granted an honorary degree from Oxford-an unusual honor for a citizen of a young,uncultured nation-and he received the medal of the Royal Society of Literature;America made him ambassador to Spain.

Irving's background provides little to explain his literary achievements.A gifted but delicate child, he had little schooling. he studied law, but without interest,and never did practice seriously.
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