Tales of the Alhambra : A Selection of Essays and Stories

When Washington Irving arrived in Granada, Spain in 1829, he was immediately captivated by the city's beauty and charm. While researching a book on the conquest of Granada, he gained access to the legendary Alhambra Palace, which had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect. Irving became a guest at the ancient fortress, where he found himself in the company of several colorful inhabitants, and soon became deeply enamored of the grand palace and its wealth of history and folklore.

The result is this captivating collection of essays, sketches, and tales. As Irving notes in his Preface, "It was my endeavor scrupulously to depict its half Spanish, half Oriental character; its mixture of the heroic, the poetic, and the grotesque; to revive the traces of grace and beauty fast fading from its walls; to record the regal and chivalrous traditions concerning those who once trod its courts; and the whimsical and superstitious legends of the motley race now burrowing among its ruins."

A must-read for modern-day visitors to the Alhambra, this edition presents a fascinating selection of Irving's observations and stories. Abridged edition of The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards, Carey & Lea, 1832.