Before Washington Irving, American literature barely existed. Most books read in the United States were written by British authors. Irving, born April 3, 1783, changed that. He became the first American writer to earn international fame. His two most famous stories are still read today, over 200 years after he wrote them. "Rip Van Winkle" tells the tale of a lazy but lovable man who wanders into the mountains, falls asleep. Wakes up twenty years later. The American Revolution has happened while he slept. His wife has died. His children are grown. Irving used humor and vivid description to make readers feel Rip's confusion. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a ghost story set in a quiet Dutch village in New York. A nervous teacher named Ichabod Crane rides home on a dark night and encounters the terrifying Headless Horseman. Irving never tells the reader whether the ghost is real or just a prank. That mystery is what makes the story work. Irving was also a skilled travel writer. He lived in Europe for seventeen years. He wrote about the places he visited, showing American readers Spanish castles and English country houses. His writing style -- warm, funny, and full of rich details -- influenced every American writer who came after him. Without Irving, American literature might have taken decades longer to find its own voice.