Memorable reading of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
Wednesday 9/23/26
From a letter:
A little something for you for the first full day of fall. (Isn't it weird that summer hangs around until just past eight PM on 9/22 rather than bowing out when the clock struck midnight?) This is an excellent reading/rendering of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Martin Jarvis. One of the best readings I've ever heard.
I think the story is masterful. It's a ghost story without any ghosts. The language and prose is undated, save that both are so highly capable and accomplished, which is what makes them stand out today. But they aren't outmoded or "old-fashioned" or anything like that. Same kind of idea with William Sloane's 1937 novel, To Walk the Night.
People like to say language is fluid as an excuse/buck-passing technique to cover up their deficiencies and ignorance, but it really isn't that fluid at all. Words have their meanings. You can find things like this from whenever that read so "modern" and so "now." A perpetual freshness.
I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this recording. I play it as one does a favorite song. Such a witty story, too. Irving knew people. Which isn't something they can teach you to do in an MFA program.
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