Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists, A Medley was written by Washington Irving in 1821, while he lived in England, and published in 1822. This episodic novel was originally published under his pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon.
Plot introduction As this is a location-based series of character sketches, there are a number of individual plots. The tales centre on the occupants of an English manor (based on Aston Hall, near Birmingham, England, which was occupied by members of the Bracebridge family and which Irving visited).
The character of Ready Money Jack was also inspired by someone Irving met near Birmingham.
Plot summary As this is a series of character sketches, the most effective way currently to describe this book is to list the contents.
Volume I The Author The Hall The Busy Man Family Servants The Widow The Lovers Family Reliques An Old Soldier The Widow's Retinue Ready Money Jack Bachelors Wives Story Telling The Stout Gentleman Forest Trees A Literary Antiquary The Farm-House Horsemanship Love-Symptoms Falconry Hawking St. Mark's Eve Gentility Fortune Telling Love-Charms The Library The Student of Salamanca
Volume II English Country Gentleman A Bachelor's Confessions English Gravity Gipsies May-Day Customs Village Worthies The Schoolmaster The School A Village Politician The Rookery May-Day The Manuscript Annette Delarbre Travelling Popular Superstitions The Culprit Family Misfortunes Lovers' Troubles The Historian The Haunted House Dolph Heyliger The Storm-Ship The Wedding The Author's Farewell
Release details All are hardcover editions except the 1823 and 1991 (binding unknown). 1822, USA, C.S. Van Winkle, 2 volumes (May 21, 1822) – published by M&S Thomas, PhiladelphiaWhile American copies have the name C.S. Van Winkle on the title page, the original bindings bear the inscription "Published by M&S Thomas, Philadelphia" on the spine. See Works, 9:xxivn28. 1822, UK, John Murray (May 23, 1822) 1823, Berlin, German translation 1836, USA, Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 2 volumes 1865, USA, G.P. Putnam's Sons, complete in one volume, by Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. 1869, USA, G.P. Putnam and Son 1876 (dated 1877), London, Macmillan & Co., one volume edition, illustrated by Randolph Caldecott 1890, London, Edinburgh & New York, T. Nelson and Sons 1978, USA, Sleepy Hollow Restorations (October 1, 1978), 1990, USA, Ams Pr (June 1, 1990), 1991, USA, Library of America: Bracebridge Hall, Tales of a Traveller, The Alhambra (March 1, 1991),
References
External links
Bracebridge Hall (Caldecott illustrated edition) at Google Books.