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1.Early years’ experience and accumulation 1、儿时 Washington Irving was born in \o Manhattan Manhattan, New York City, in 1783. His family was part of the citys small, vibrant merchant class. At the same week, The United States defeated the British achieved the victory of the revolution of independence. So his family named him after the hero of revolution, George Washington. Ivring was invalid when he was young and finally leave school when he was 16. After that he worked as a student in several law firms, but he has no interest in law. On the contrary, he was fond of literature ever since he was a child. He like to read adventure stories, such as Robinson Crusoe and Gullivers Travels. And he had often sneaking into theatres to watch dramas. His brothers often encourage him to pursued his literary aspirations with financially support. In 1798, Manhattan outbreaks of yellow fever. Considered for Ivring’s safty, his family send him to Tarrytown. “Sleepy Hollow” is located a short distance away from Tarrytown. In there, Ivring became familiar with its quaint Dutch customs and local ghost stories. Ivring also made several other trips along the Hudson river. During these trips, he passed through the Gatskill mountain region, it’s the setting for “Rip Van Winkle”. These experiences have a powerful witching effect on Ivring’s boyish imagination, as himself said. 2、少年时期 At the age of 19, Irving began writing letters to the New York ?Morning Chronicle. These letters were comments on the citys news or theater scene. These letters bring Ivring both fame and infamy. Concerned for his health, Irvings brothers financed him to travel around Europe from 1804 to 1806. Irving bypassed many sites and locations which is benefit for a of a young man’s development, including France, Italy and England. He had took a large number of travel notes during this experience, which accumulated meaningful materials for his later creation. While visiting Rome in 1805, he once want be a painter. 二、