Washington Irving was America’s first man of letters to be known internationally. His works were received (36) both in England and in the United States. He was, in fact, one of the most successful writers of his time in either country, (37) a large general public and at the same time winning the (38) of fellow writers in the United States. The respect in which he was held was (39) owing to the man himself, with his warm (40) , his good sense, his gay spirits, his (41) integrity, his love of both the Old World and the New. One writer once described Irving as " a gentleman, who, though himself born in no very high sphere, was most finished, (42) , witty; socially the equal of the most (43) Europeans". In England (44) —an unusual honor for a citizen of a young, uncultured nation — and be received the medal of the Royal Society of Literature; America made him ambassador to Spain. (45) . A gifted but deliberate child, he had little schooling. He studied law, but without warmth, and never did practise seriously. (46)
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Irving’s background provided little to explain his literary ......