Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Washington Irving

In Short

This volume serves as a structured master directory to the extensive works of Washington Irving preserved within the Project Gutenberg archive. It encapsulates a massive span of nineteenth-century American literature, detailing early fur-trading expeditions across the American West, rich biographical portraits of key figures like Oliver Goldsmith and George Washington, historical accounts of Moorish Spain, and classic regional folklore. Readers encounter a systematic mapping of Irving's complete literary range, tracing his transition from lighthearted satire and local sketches to deep historical research and biography. It endures as an essential navigation tool for studying one of early America's most defining literary outputs.

The Story

The narrative arc mapped out by this volume traces Washington Irving's vast literary journey, organized chronologically and topically through his collected writings. The sequence opens with his sweeping accounts of American expansion into the Western frontier. Beginning with Astoria, the text outlines the grand commercial enterprises of John Jacob Astor, the establishment of fur-trading companies, and the hazardous journeys of Canadian voyageurs and American trappers crossing the Rocky Mountains to reach the Columbia River. This frontier chronicle continues through The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, detailing arduous expeditions across the Great Salt Lake, dangerous encounters with native tribes like the Blackfeet and Crows, and the untamed lives of mountain trappers.

Transitioning from the American wilderness to European settings and historical narratives, the text catalogs Irving's biographical and travel works. It highlights Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey along with a thorough biography of Oliver Goldsmith, tracking Goldsmith’s early trials, his impoverished wanderings across Europe, and his eventual rise within London’s literary circles alongside figures like Samuel Johnson.

The middle movement shifts focus toward medieval history with the Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada. This section systematically logs the long, bitter struggle between the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and the Moorish rulers of Granada. It traces every major military campaign, from the captures of Alhama and Velez Malaga to the final siege and capitulation of the Alhambra, detailing internal Moorish rivalries involving figures like Boabdil and El Zagal.

Following this historical narrative, the collection catalogs Irving's shorter fiction and legendary tales, including The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. and Wolfert's Roost, home to famous local folklore like "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It further includes The Alhambra, capturing romantic Spanish legends of enchanted castles, hidden Moorish treasures, and local traditions.

The collection concludes with Irving's extensive historical and biographical accounts of early Spain, detailing the Gothic monarchy of Don Roderick, the Moorish invasion led by Taric and Muza, and the complete subjugation of the Iberian Peninsula. Finally, it outlines his condensed biography of George Washington, documenting the full sweep of the American Revolution from early frontier skirmishes through the battles of Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown to the foundation of the American Republic.

How It Unfolds

The frontier calls west The chronicle opens with commercial schemes to establish fur-trading networks across the Pacific Northwest, sending brave crews aboard ships like the Tonquin and across overland mountain paths toward the mouth of the Columbia River.

Trapping the mountain wilderness Expeditions push deep into the Rocky Mountains, where trappers navigate treacherous river rapids, survive harsh winter encampments, and negotiate complex tribal territories stretching from the Missouri River to Upper California.

Sojourns through British literary circles The focus moves to biographical studies, following Oliver Goldsmith's erratic journey from a penniless student wandering Continental Europe to a celebrated London author facing constant financial strain.

The siege of Moorish Granada Military campaigns unfold across southern Spain as Ferdinand and Isabella wage a relentless war against the kingdom of Granada, marked by fierce battles, internal Moorish betrayals, and the ultimate surrender of the Alhambra.

Legends of the old world and new Sketches and regional folklore emerge, weaving together classic Dutch-American ghost stories along the Hudson River with romantic tales of Moorish astrology, hidden treasures, and enchanted soldiers within Spanish palaces.

The downfall of Gothic Spain Historical accounts trace the collapse of King Roderick's kingdom following the Arab invasion, documenting the rapid march of Taric el Tuerto and Muza across the Iberian Peninsula.

Forging a new republic The final section charts George Washington's rise from a young Virginia surveyor to the commander-in-chief leading Continental forces through the hardships of the Revolutionary War to achieve American independence.

The People

• John Jacob Astor: A visionary merchant who seeks to establish a vast, continental fur-trading empire in the Pacific Northwest; his ambitions drive the overland and maritime expeditions toward the Columbia River, though remote logistics and wilderness perils constantly threaten his enterprise.
• Oliver Goldsmith: An erratic, generous, and perpetually impoverished poet who struggles through severe financial penury, unsuccessful career starts, and harsh reviews before establishing himself as a beloved literary figure in London alongside Samuel Johnson.
• Boabdil: The tragic last Moorish king of Granada, caught between internal family feuds at the Alhambra and the overwhelming military pressure of the Catholic Monarchs, ultimately losing his kingdom and going into exile.
• George Washington: A disciplined military commander and leader who rises from early colonial surveying expeditions to navigate bitter winters, troop shortages, and tactical retreats, ultimately guiding the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain.

In Its Own Voice

"CHAPTER I. -- Objects of American Enterprise.-Gold Hunting and Fur Trading.-Their Effect on Colonization.-Early French Canadian Settlers.- Ottawa and Huron Hunters.-An Indian Trading Camp."

This entry introduces the initial historical focus on frontier expansion and commercial trade in the wilderness.

"CHAPTER XXXVIII. -- The Village of Wish-ram.-Roguery of the Inhabitants.-Their Habitations.-Tidings of Astoria.-Of the Tonquin Massacre."

This entry outlines the tense, dangerous encounters faced by expeditions arriving near the Pacific coast.

"CHAPTER XCVII. -- Capitulation of Granada."

This succinct heading marks the climax of the long military campaign for control of Moorish Spain.

What It's Really About

This collection centers on the foundational forces that shape civilizations, national identities, and individual legacies across human history. It examines how raw ambition—whether driven by commercial gain in the American fur trade or territorial conquest in medieval Spain—propels nations into unknown wildernesses and conflicts. The text explores the inevitable clash between expanding empires and native populations, illustrating the human cost of colonization and war. At the same time, it investigates the preservation of cultural memory, contrasting historical grand strategy with regional folklore, personal eccentricities, and individual resilience against hardship. Ultimately, it questions how wilderness, warfare, and literary art combine to construct a nation's historical imagination.

Why Read It Today

This volume is ideal for researchers, historians, and literary enthusiasts seeking a clear, structured gateway into the complete output of one of America's first internationally recognized authors. Reading through these comprehensive outlines reveals the surprising breadth of Washington Irving's career, extending far beyond his famous Hudson Valley ghost stories into rigorous histories of Spanish empires, biographies of revolutionary leaders, and primary accounts of early Western exploration.

The structure allows readers to comfortably navigate a dense body of nineteenth-century literature without getting lost in its immense length. While the period terminology, colonial attitudes, and formal academic titles reflect the era in which they were compiled, the text provides an invaluable high-level roadmap. It offers a fascinating glimpse into how early American readers consumed history, adventure, and biography, leaving a lasting appreciation for the sheer scope of early American literary enterprise.