by Washington Irving

This is one of those classics I've meant to read for years. It's written in an older English dialect that adds atmosphere to the narrative and brings the Dutch communities of New England to life with all their customs and superstitions.

Icabod Crane is a schoolmaster who has cast his eye on a local girl, just eighteen. She comes from a family that is as well-off as is to be found in the small community and is also a beauty. While there wasn't as much about witchcraft in the original story as was in the most recent movie version with Johnny Depp, it is mentioned along with goblins and ghosts and especially the tale of the headless horseman who legends say rises from the grave to seek his missing head.

The story was a lot more basic than I expected, with the whole ghostly phenomenon more a matter of superstition and practical joking than the tale has grown into with retellings, but it was enjoyable nonetheless to finally read the original material.

I read/listened to these two over the weekend.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue was read for Locked Room Mystery. And Tom Mison's narration of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was a very enjoyable way to cross off the Sleepy Hollow square.

Now I just need to check if these have got me another bingo.

I got this book as a freebie from audible (my first audiobook, btw!) six years ago and have listened to it every year since then.

Here's the review I posted in 2014, and here's the annual Tom Mison picture, because he's easy on the eyes.

And here he is as Ichabod Crane. TV Ichabod is far superior to Book Ichabod, btw.

Somebody needs to tell Tom Mison to narrate more audiobooks.

Time for my annual reread!