Bracebridge Hall Explained

Bracebridge Hall
Author:Washington Irving
Country:United States / England (concurrently published)
Language:English
Publisher:John Murray (UK)
Moses Thomas (USA)
Release Date:1822
Media Type:Print (hardback), 2 volumes
Isbn:0-554-33977-3
Isbn Note:(reprint)
Preceded By:The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
Followed By:Tales of a Traveller

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).

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

  1. The Author
  2. The Hall
  3. The Busy Man
  4. Family Servants
  5. The Widow
  6. The Lovers
  7. Family Reliques
  8. An Old Soldier
  9. The Widow's Retinue
  10. Ready Money Jack
  11. Bachelors
  12. Wives
  13. Story Telling
  14. The Stout Gentleman
  15. Forest Trees
  16. A Literary Antiquary
  17. The Farm-House
  18. Horsemanship
  19. Love-Symptoms
  20. Falconry
  21. Hawking
  22. St. Mark's Eve
  23. Gentility
  24. Fortune Telling
  25. Love-Charms
  26. The Library
  27. The Student of Salamanca

Volume II

  1. English Country Gentleman
  2. A Bachelor's Confessions
  3. English Gravity
  4. Gipsies
  5. May-Day Customs
  6. Village Worthies
  7. The Schoolmaster
  8. The School
  9. A Village Politician
  10. The Rookery
  11. May-Day
  12. The Manuscript
  13. Annette Delarbre
  14. Travelling
  15. Popular Superstitions
  16. The Culprit
  17. Family Misfortunes
  18. Lovers' Troubles
  19. The Historian
  20. The Haunted House
  21. Dolph Heyliger
  22. The Storm-Ship
  23. The Wedding
  24. The Author's Farewell

Release details

All are hardcover editions except the 1823 and 1991 (binding unknown).

External links

Notes and References

  1. While 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.