Tales of the Alhambra

by Washington Irving

Overview

This book was so instrumental in reintroducing western audiences to The Alhambra that a plaque now marks the rooms in which Irving stayed while working on some of the book.

Originally visiting Granada as research for another book, Washington Irving immediately fell in love with "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." Thanks to his celebrity status his request to access the palace was granted and inspired him to write Tales of the Alhambra. Combining description, myth, and the stories of real historical events, Irving paints pictures of this incredible place.

This edition is based on the author's own revised edition and is complete and unabridged with all of the drawings and page illustrations of the original edition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625583413
Publisher:	Start Publishing LLC
Publication date:	01/03/2013
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	219
Sales rank:	385,448
Lexile:	1320L (what's this?)
File size:	377 KB

About the Author

Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 - November 28, 1859) was an American short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (1820), both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works include biographies of George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith, and Muhammad, and several histories of 15th-century Spain dealing with subjects such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors and the Alhambra. Irving served as the U.S. ambassador to Spain from 1842 to 1846.

Editorial Reviews

Written in 1831, this classic weaves timeless tales of intrigue, romance, greed, and hidden treasure amid the grandeur of the Alhambra. The listener’s ear must become attuned to the historical language and setting, but this adjustment proves worthwhile. The ancient tales describe palace gardens, towers, subterranean prisons, and escape routes across mountains. Interestingly, the characters give present-day listeners a fresh perspective of the tensions between the Christian and Islamic traditions, and the ties to modern-day events are dramatic. Ralph Cosham gives an excellent even-toned reading with inflections of Spanish and Arabic that add to the stories. Spanish guitar music provides both transitional moments and ambience. L.D.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

AUG/SEP 05 - AudioFile