[Read by Various Narrators Bronson Pinchot, John Chancer, Katherine Fenton, Geraint Wyn Davies, Patrick Fraley, Russ Holcomb, Norman Dietz] This anthology of seven unabridged short stories represents some of the most significant works from the most influential American authors of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Included are : ''Rip Van Winkle'' by Washington Irving ''Young Goodman Brown'' by Nathaniel Hawthorne ''The Fall of the House of Usher'' by Edgar Allan Poe ''Mermaids'' by Louisa May Alcott ''The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County'' by Mark Twain ''An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'' by Ambrose Bierce ''The Gift of the Magi'' by O. Henry.
Author
People remember American writer Washington Irving for the stories " Rip Van Winkle " and " The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ," contained in The Sketch Book (1820). This author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century wrote newspaper articles under the pseudonym Jonathan Oldstyle to begin his literary career at the age of nineteen years. In 1809, he published The History of New York under his most popular public persona, Diedrich Knickerbocker. Historical works of Irving include a five volume biography of George Washington (after whom he was named) as well as biographies of Oliver Goldsmith, Muhammad, and several histories, dealing with subjects, such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra, of 15th-century Spain. John Tyler, president, appointed Irving to serve as the first Spanish speaking United States minister to Spain from 1842 to 1846.
