A-Z: Classic Monsters: H is for the Headless Horseman

The A-Z Challenge's letter is "H" and there is only one classic monster that comes to mind.... the Headless Horseman.  If you know anything about my blog, than you know how head-over-heels I am about this mystical monster.  In order to honor an classic like the Headless Horseman and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I am reposting a snippet of my first creepy classic review.

Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The first book on my Creepy Classics review list is Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Since written in the 1800s, Irving is considered one of celebrated early American writers. My curious nature led me to read this one first. It’s been too long since I cracked this book open and I was pleased I did.

Irving skillfully depicts an early American rural setting of a small Dutch town as the beginnings of his legendary story of the Headless Horseman.  A master at fiction, Irving had me laughing several times when describing the classical character of Ichabod Crane. He’s the gangly nerdy schoolmaster who loves to sing and study about witches, legends and other mystical folklore.

Read the complete post here.

From Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...

I also wanted to share a snippet of Irving's words on the Horseman.  There was amazing build-up before this, but I really liked this singular sentence!

On mounting a rising ground, which brought the figure of his fellow-traveller in relief against the sky, gigantic in height, and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless!--but his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle! 

Source

Fox's Office prank using the Headless Horseman

Last Halloween, Fox unleashed the classic monster to walk their corporate halls and scare their poor employees to near death.  Check out this cute video Fox did.  Why is it such fun to scare people?

I've posted a few times on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane and of course the Headless Horseman.  He's a favorite of mine.  Do you like him too?  Did you have a better classic monster for the letter "H" in mind?

Mina B.

A-Z Challenge: Ichabod Crane

Today's character feature for A-Z Challenge (letter "I") is the legendary Ichabod Crane from Washington Irving’s dark classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  For being only a short story, it confounds me how timeless this character is.  A couple years back, I reviewed this creepy classic (my review.)  And surprise...I loved it.  The main reason was not just for the Headless Horseman, but for the Ichabod.  Reading this character's description alone, feels like he jumps right off the page.  Here's a snidbit:

"He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield."

I love this.  It's so masterfully descriptive, it's inspiring.  Don't you think?  And as the story unfolds, his character unravels even more deliciously so.  You gotta laugh when you see Hollywood's take on Ichabod i.e. Johnny Depp in the Sleepy Hollow--which by all accounts was awesome.  Yet with all Depp's entertaining efforts of the schoolmaster's geeky portrayal, he wasn't truly Ichabod.  Not even close.

So...have you read Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?  Do you remember how wonderful Ichabod was?

Mina B. 

Creepy Classics: Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

In support of the many, phenomenal classic books written, I’ve decided to review some of the best classics of all time. Plan on seeing these reviews monthly in a series I’ve deemed Creepy Classics.

The first book on my Creepy Classics review list is Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Since written in the 1800s, Irving is considered one of celebrated early American writers. My curious nature led me to read this one first. It’s been too long since I cracked this book open and I was pleased I did.

Irving skillfully depicts an early American rural setting of a small Dutch town as the beginnings of his legendary story of the Headless Horseman. A master at fiction, Irving had me laughing several times when describing the classical character of Ichabod Crane. He’s the gangly nerdy schoolmaster who loves to sing and study about witches, legends and other mystical folklore. Ichabod, at first, is a true nerd at heart whom sets his sights on the town’s most eligible maiden, young Katrina Van Tassel. Ichabod sees Katrina as more of a lucrative match than anything else. And he’s not the only youngster vying for Katrina’s affection. Brom Bones , a beefy bachelor and polar opposite of Ichabod, is also in the running to win the fare maiden’s heart. And Ichabod’s no match for the fearless Bram Bones, but bless him because this loveable teacher still relentlessly tries. Although he’s no match for Bram, he uses his brain to create inopportune times to woo Ms. Van Tassel. And just when he believes he’s making headway with the damsel, Irving slams the door in our hero’s face.
I know it’s a bit jarring but, hey…it’s the truth. Irving spends all this time getting us sucked into Ichabod’s life. He’s a geek no doubt but as one reads on, you see a wonderful, spirited, lively character with a vision for a martial, prosperous life with Katrina. He’s the underdog and you so want him to succeed but, oh yeah, this is supposed to be a story about the headless horseman, right? Right! I say that because, while telling us this story, Irving takes you on this single man’s journey and masterfully plants hints of the ghostly legends. Everyone knows the story of the headless horseman but of course he doesn’t make an appearance until the very end. And what happens, he takes away our hero, Ichabod Crane.

This wonderfully written short story is what legends are made of. The suspense, the visual depiction of early American rural times, the dark, creepy town of Sleepy Hollow and our hero, the nerdy, lovable Ichabod Crane. If you haven’t had a chance to read this creepy classic, do so. It’s only a short story but just the same, it’s just shy of brilliant.

On the Mina Burrow’s kilometer, I give The Legend of Sleepy Hollow a 4.

Until next time...if you can't find something to read, read a Creepy Classic.

Mina B.