The Washington Irving Library

In which the intrepid Captain Sublette leads a diverse company of fur traders and adventurous newcomers through the challenging wilderness to the rendezvous at Pierre’s Hole, where they encounter the ominous presence of the Blackfeet Indians and face a fierce conflict in a wild swampy fort. The narrative unfolds with vivid descriptions of frontier life, vivid alliances between trappers and native...

In which Captain Bonneville and his party traverse the majestic and rugged Wind River Mountains, encountering the vast Green River Valley and its challenging terrain, whilst contending with the harsh realities of thirst, fatigue, and the cunning stratagems of rival fur traders. The narrative unfolds amid the perilous presence of the formidable Blackfeet tribes, whose fierce and treacherous nature...

In which Captain Bonneville's caravan encounters a warlike yet curious band of Crow Indians, whose initial hostile display gives way to surprising friendliness mingled with covert pilfering, while the travelling party navigates the rugged and elevated terrain of the Black Hills and surrounding regions, encountering the challenges of rarefied air and barren landscapes. Among the diverse company, th...

In which Captain Bonneville sets forth from Fort Osage with a hardy band of hunters and trappers, choosing the unconventional method of travelling by wagon through the vast and untamed prairies, and encounters the lively and contrasting characters of both American and French trappers as well as the hospitable Kansas Indians. Amidst the challenges of the wilderness and the convivial encampments, th...

In which Captain Bonneville and his party traverse the vast and varied prairies, encountering geological curiosities such as tabular hills and sandstone slabs, and enduring the scarcity of game and provisions with resolute good humour. Along the banks of the Nebraska River and amidst towering bluffs and rugged cliffs, they observe vast herds of buffalo and the agile bighorn sheep, all set against...

In which the reader is introduced to the rugged and perilous world of the Rocky Mountains fur trade, where rival companies, hardy frontiersmen, and wary Indian tribes contend in a vast and untamed wilderness. The hardy mountaineers, skilled horsemen and fearless trappers, pursue their adventurous livelihoods amidst formidable dangers and constant competition, setting the stage for Captain Bonnevil...

In which we are introduced to the gallant Captain Bonneville, a soldier of French descent whose restless spirit and adventurous heart led him from the disciplined halls of West Point to the untamed wilderness of the Far West. His narrative, enriched by his encounters with mountain trappers and Indian traders, forms the foundation of this charming and illuminating discourse, gently coloured by the...

In which a curious little party undertakes a secretive nocturnal expedition in search of buried treasure upon the wooded shores of Manhattan, employing arcane rites and dowsing rods amid eerie surroundings. In the aftermath of their breathless adventure, fortunes change unexpectedly through the slow encroachment of urban development, transforming humble farmers into prosperous landlords, with the...

In which the tale unfolds around Mud Sam, a black fisherman well versed in the fickle tides of Hell Gate, who stumbles upon a mysterious nocturnal burial by a gang of red-capped men, stirring an eerie mixture of fear and fascination. The story is steeped in the superstitions and whispered ghostly tales of a haunted farm-house by the Sound, infusing the local lore with a haunting air of mystery and...

In which the restless Wolfert Webber enlists the guidance of the quaint and seasoned fisherman Mud Sam to revisit a shadowy site marked by arcane crosses and haunted ruins, steeped in eerie superstition and the promise of buried treasure. Joined by the enigmatic Dr. Knipperhausen and his mystical divining rod, they prepare to delve into the mysteries of night-time money-digging with solemn rites a...

In which a company of old acquaintances gathers in a rural tavern to exchange spirited tales of buried treasures, Dutch ancestors, and pirate legends that set the imagination awhirl with dreams of wealth. Meanwhile, poor Wolfert Webber becomes possessed by these visions, obsessively digging his once-prosperous garden through many seasons, as hopes of sudden fortune gradually wane into the harsh re...

In which an enigmatic and imperious mariner, newly arrived with an air of authority and exotic wealth, takes dominion over an established inn and captivates—or intimidates—its accustomed patrons with his vivid tales of piracy and seaborne adventures. The local company, drawn to and yet fearful of this strange visitor, finds themselves mesmerised by stories of buried treasure and buccaneer exploits...

In which the industrious and ancient Webber family, long devoted to the cultivation of cabbages in the midst of a growing city, maintains their tranquil rural existence under the shadow of a mighty button-wood tree, whilst contending with the encroachments and changes brought by urban expansion. Amidst this peaceful yet subtly shifting world, the gentle blooming of young Amy and the quiet attentio...

In which a miserly man strikes a sinister bargain that trades his integrity for wealth, navigating the treacherous tides of usury and religious hypocrisy with a wary eye toward the inevitable reckoning. The tale unfolds amidst the echoes of colonial superstition and the haunting landscapes of New England, where fortunes and fates are as easily lost as the treasures buried beneath ancient oaks.

In which the restless and lawless days following the English wresting of New Netherland are vividly recalled, and the notorious Captain Kidd is introduced as a pirate turned pursuer of his own kind, whose buried treasures ignited widespread legends along the eastern coast. The narrator, seeking truth amid rumour, stumbles upon a rusted pistol in calm waters near Manhattan, setting the stage for ta...

In which a miserly husband and wife, dwelling near a desolate swamp reputedly haunted by the devil’s deeds, harbour a mutual distrust as grim as their poverty, leading the husband into a mysterious and uncanny encounter with a dark and formidable stranger amid the gloomy old Indian fort. This revelation stirs the embers of avarice and discord, as elements of old superstition and shadowy commerce i...

In which a weary traveller finds unexpected compassion amid perilous company in a rocky wilderness, experiencing the strange mingling of charity and crime under the watchful eye of a cautious robber chief. Meanwhile, a separate company of travellers encounters the dangers of a rugged road, culminating in a sudden and violent rescue that awakens gratitude and surprises beneath the calm exterior of...

In which a narrow and tempestuous strait near the city of the Manhattoes is vividly portrayed, its tides and treacherous currents likened to the caprices of a wayward spirit, and the ominous wreckage therein stirs the imagination with tales of pirates and supernatural lore. The narrator reflects on youthful adventures and the murky blend of fact and fable that colours the maritime history of this...

In which a reckless young man from the Abruzzi becomes entangled in a desperate and tragic liaison that leads him into the wild and lawless life of a mountain robber band, torn between love and the harsh codes that govern his new comrades. Amidst the silent woods and perilous adventures, the turmoil of passion and loyalty unfolds with a sombre intensity befitting the rugged mountain terrain.

In which a native of Prossedi, discontented with the oppressive rule of a new police chief, becomes entwined with a band of mountain robbers following a desperate act of defiance, leading to a vivid immersion in the rugged life and customs of these outlaws. The narrator’s keen artistic eye captures both the tumult and the strange camaraderie of their wilderness existence, while deeper confidences...

In which a historical painter recounts his tranquil sojourn near the ancient heights of Tusculum, where classic ruins and serene landscapes form a gentle backdrop to his artistic pursuits. His peaceful days are abruptly disturbed by an encounter with a band of rugged brigands, whose wild lives and austere mountain retreat offer a dramatic contrast to the refined scenes he so admires.

In which the carriage of a venerable English family rolls through the rugged Italian countryside, harbouring both the pride and prejudices of its occupants as they encounter the threats that lurk beyond the well-trodden paths. The adventure unfolds amid the romantic scenery and lively discourse of travellers at an inn, blending the allure of foreign lands with the ever-present shadow of peril.

In which a diminutive yet scholarly antiquary encounters a lively band of mountain robbers in the rugged heights above Terracina, sharing uneasy companionship and wine amidst relics and roguery. The narrative then meanders through reflections on the curious combination of piety and lawlessness that colours the character of these desperadoes, revealing a stirring picture of rustic life and shadowy...

In which the traveller alights at the sleepy inn of Terracina, a place perched beside the ancient walls and shadowed by the ruins of a Gothic castle, amid tales and warnings of highwaymen whose boldness and numbers grow daily on the road to Naples. Here, amidst a diverse company of guests and an Englishman both sceptical and grudgingly intrigued, the tale unfolds in whispers and hearty discourse o...

In which a gentleman, stirred by curiosity and a touch of resentment, visits the neglected ancestral estate of a cousin who has inherited the family fortune but lives in a coarse, unrefined manner, surrounded by rustic acquaintances and a ramshackle household. He adopts a humble disguise to observe the scene, leading to a clash that unexpectedly reveals a grudging bond beneath the rough exterior o...