A History of New York (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Knickerbocker Mock-History of Dutch Colonial Manhattan, New Amsterdam Satire, and American Comic OriginsBy Washington Irving
Length15h 5m
About this audiobook
A History of New York is Washington Irving's exuberant mock-history of Dutch colonial Manhattan, narrated through the comic persona of Diedrich Knickerbocker. Blending antiquarian parody, political satire, burlesque epic, and pseudo-scholarly apparatus, the book transforms local history into a playful literary performance. Its digressive style, mock erudition, and affectionate ridicule place it within eighteenth-century satirical traditions while anticipating a distinctly American comic prose, rooted in regional memory yet skeptical of civic mythmaking. Irving, born in New York in 1783, wrote at a moment when the young republic was seeking cultural legitimacy and historical depth. His cosmopolitan reading, legal training, journalistic experience, and intimate knowledge of New York society all shaped the work's wit and ironic perspective. By inventing Knickerbocker, Irving created not only a narrator but a durable cultural identity for old New York, revealing his fascination with how communities manufacture origins, heroes, and traditions. This book is highly recommended for readers interested in early American literature, urban history, and sophisticated comic writing. It rewards those who enjoy satire that is learned without being dry, patriotic without being solemn, and historically minded without surrendering to fact alone.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.8 (1.3K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreHumor
Length15 hrs 5 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 12, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1A History of New York (Annotated)
26CHAPTER I
2Introduction
27CHAPTER II
3Synopsis
28CHAPTER III
4Historical Context
29CHAPTER IV
5Author Biography
30CHAPTER V
Mostrar todos os capítulosVer menos
6A History of New York: From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty (Complete Edition – Volume 1 & 2)
31CHAPTER VI
7VOLUME I
32CHAPTER VII
8INTRODUCTION
33CHAPTER VIII
9BOOK I
34CHAPTER IX
10CHAPTER I
35BOOK IV
11CHAPTER II
36CHAPTER I
12CHAPTER III
37CHAPTER II
13CHAPTER IV
38CHAPTER III
14CHAPTER V
39CHAPTER IV
15BOOK II
40CHAPTER V
16CHAPTER I
41VOLUME II
17CHAPTER II
42INTRODUCTION
18CHAPTER III
43CHAPTER VI
19CHAPTER IV
44CHAPTER VII
20CHAPTER V
45CHAPTER VIII
21CHAPTER VI
46CHAPTER IX
22CHAPTER VII
47CHAPTER X
23CHAPTER VIII
48CHAPTER XI
24CHAPTER IX
49CHAPTER XII
25BOOK III
50BOOK V
Die Legende Von Sleepy HollowWashington Irving1h 28m3.9 (260.3K)$1 · $0.00
The Legend of Sleepy HollowWashington Irving1h 25m4.0 (201.6K)$10 · $0.00
The Legend of Sleepy HollowWashington Irving1h 21m4.0 (194.3K)$9 · $0.00
La leyenda de Sleepy HollowWashington Irving2h 5m4.0 (199.1K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Historical Works of Washington Irving: Life of George Washington, The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, Astoria, Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, Life of Oliver Goldsmith (Annotated)Washington Irving122h 6m$2 · $0.00
Jonathan Oldstyle's Briefe (Kommentiert)Washington Irving3h 6m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (Illustrated) (Annotated)Washington Irving15h 35m4.3 (1.3K)$2 · $0.00
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. - The Complete Collection (Illustrated) (Annotated)Washington Irving15h 36m4.1 (29K)$2 · $0.00
Das Leben Mohammeds, des arabischen Propheten (Kommentiert)Washington Irving12h 28m3.9 (17)$1 · $0.00
The Spanish Account: Tales of the Alhambra & Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (Annotated)Washington Irving31h 41m$2 · $0.00
La leyenda de Sleepy Hollow (Anotado)Washington Irving3h 16m4.4 (12)$1.99 · $0.00
Die New-York Geschichte: Von Anbeginn der Welt bis zur Endschaft der holländischen Dynastie (Kommentiert)Washington Irving10h 4m3.8 (1.6K)$1 · $0.00
Die Legende Von Sleepy Hollow (Kommentiert)Washington Irving2h 58m4.3 (12)$1 · $0.00
ASTORIA (A Western Classic) (Annotated)Washington Irving19h 48m3.9 (224)$2 · $0.00
The Historical Works of Washington Irving (Illustrated) (Annotated)Washington Irving122h 7m$2 · $0.00
Wolfert's Roost, and MiscellaniesWashington Irving6h 58m3.5 (10)$1 · $0.00
A History of New YorkWashington Irving14h 45m3.7 (501)$1 · $0.00
Knickerbocker's History of New York, CompleteWashington Irving14h 35m3.7 (516)$1 · $0.00
A History of New York: From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch DynastyWashington Irving14h 40m3.7 (795)$1 · $0.00
Lost In TranslationAudrey Davis9h 15m4.4 (235)Free
How to Test Negative for StupidJohn Kennedy8h 13m4.7 (9.7K)$28 · $0.00
The Jeeves and Wooster Stories: The Complete Collection (33 Books)P. G. Wodehouse21h 57m4.7 (2.8K)$15 · $0.00
Birdie & HarlowTaylor Wolfe7h 50m4.6 (6.5K)$26 · $0.00
The Life of DaiDai Henwood, Jaquie Brown8h 2m4.6 (790)$26 · $0.00
Welcome to PawneeJim O'Heir6h 24m4.5 (5.3K)$24 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett13h 36m4.5 (163.8K)$33 · $0.00
Woman UninterruptedBrodie Kane7h 1m4.6 (562)$24 · $0.00
1984 & Animal Farm (Annotated)George Orwell15h 54m4.5 (220.8K)$3.99 · $0.00
Kingsblood Royal (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis14h 42m4.6 (264)$2 · $0.00
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
You Will Get Through This NightDaniel Howell6h 56m4.4 (11.8K)$24 · $0.00
Northanger Abbey (Annotated)Jane Austen10h 7m4.5 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
My Dear HamiltonStephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie23h 7m4.4 (63.6K)$46 · $0.00
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS & SCREWTAPE PROPOSES A TOAST (Annotated)C. S. Lewis5h 6m4.4 (471K)$2 · $0.00
BufferingHannah Hart5h 55m4.4 (12.4K)$24 · $0.00
The Office BFFsJenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey8h 26m4.3 (45.4K)$26 · $0.00
The Collected Stories of Dorothy ParkerDorothy Parker8h 36m4.3 (13.6K)$1 · $0.00
LambChristopher Moore15h 22m4.3 (211.3K)$33 · $0.00
#IMomSoHardKristin Hensley, Jen Smedley7h 19m4.3 (7.3K)$24 · $0.00
You may also like
A Stroke of the PenTerry Pratchett4h 36m4.1 (10.9K)$20 · $0.00
A House-Boat on the StyxJohn Kendrick Bangs3h 50m3.7 (3.5K)$1 · $0.00
Cajun Night Before ChristmasTrosclair13m4.5 (3.2K)$5 · $0.00
Extracts from Adam's Diary, translated from the original msMark Twain27m4.0 (21.8K)$2 · $0.00
A Christmas GarlandMax Sir Beerbohm3h 55m4.1 (784)$1 · $0.00
Santa's HusbandDaniel Kibblesmith, A P. Quach5m4.6 (1.6K)$4 · $0.00
William Shakespeare: The Complete Works (The Giants of Literature - Book 1) (Annotated)William Shakespeare156h 46m4.5 (2.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Praise of FollyDesiderius Erasmus3h 35m4.0 (26.3K)$6 · $0.00
Theophrastus's CharactersTheophrastus1h 20m3.9 (1.1K)$25
The Book of NonsenseEdward Lear1h 48m3.8 (3.8K)$1 · $0.00
The Innocents Abroad (Illustrated)Mark Twain33h 10m4.0 (15.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
THE SUNNY SIDE OF FITZGERALD – 13 Humor & Parody Works in One EditionF. Scott Fitzgerald2h 14m4.1 (11)$1.99 · $0.00
A History of New YorkWashington Irving14h 45m3.7 (501)$1 · $0.00
A History of New York: From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch DynastyWashington Irving14h 40m3.7 (795)$1 · $0.00
Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)Various Authors10h$1.99 · $0.00
Trips to the MoonSamosata Lucian3h 58m3.5 (102)$2.30
Something Else AgainFranklin P. Adams1h 30m$2 · $0.00
Comic History Of EnglandBill Nye2h 45m3.2 (108)$2.30
Curiosities of the American StageLaurence Hutton3h 28m$2 · $0.00
Let Your Mind Alone! And Other More or Less Inspirational PiecesJames Thurber8h3.9 (160)$1 · $0.00