Diedrich Knickerbocker

Diedrich Knickerbocker

Washington Irving created a pseudo historian for the purpose of bettering his own work and to entertain his readers. In 1809 Irving wrote “A History of New York” through a persona known as Diedrich Knickerbocker. This was Knickerbocker’s first appearance in Irving’s work, but it sure wouldn’t be his last. Although he was not real, Knickerbocker was a historian that seemed to be in love with the people and landscape of the northeast, particularly New York. Even though Irving never revealed it, some of his characteristics may be found within Knickerbocker’s writing.

Washington Irving was born in New York City in 1783, he always had an appreciation of the land and people from there. Irving was quite opposed to the fact that New York was becoming and would become one of the biggest and most prominent cities in the entire world. Irving seemed to be fonder of the lush foliage and the rolling hills of the city, rather than a crowded city and huge port. Irving conveys his beliefs through Knickerbocker in “A History of New York,” in the essay Irving says “Happy would it have been for New Amsterdam could it always have existed in this state of blissful ignorance and lowly simplicity, but alas! the days of childhood are too sweet to last! Cities, like men, grow out of them in time, and are doomed alike to grow into the bustle, the cares, and miseries of the world.” (Irving 570). Irving believed that his New York would not be the same if it was given all of the exporting and importing power in the east, which it was and is not the way he wished it was.

Irving also had a fond feeling for the early Dutch settlers in New York, from Henry Hudson and his men, to stories of Dutch origin in New York. A few of these stories “were told to Knickerbocker” by Dutch settlers, one of which was “Rip Van Winkle,” a story of a man who fell asleep for 20 years only to wake up to radical changes. Another story that was “found among the papers of Diedrich Knickerbocker” was “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Both of these stories are tall tales that Irving wrote as entertainment for his readers, but he mentioned in both that these were stories told to Knickerbocker by people of Dutch origin, he made sure that the reader knew that. In both of these stories Irving describes the incredible scenery of New York, and he also describes the kindness and simplicity of the Dutch people. In “Rip Van Winkle” he says “he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse, under a spreading sycamore…” (Irving 573). He also describes a great mountain setting in New York “When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but, sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory.”

“Diedrich Knickerbocker's conception of authorship was heroic. The business of writing was "a perilous enterprise," and only those who were dauntless and daring could succeed in their quest for "fame." Writers were intrepid knights who courageously confronted all difficulties and hardships as they journeyed toward publication, a textual pilgrimage that required unwavering sacrifice and resolute determination.” (Williams 1). Irving portrayed Knickerbocker as an adventures man who traveled far lengths and met many people in his journeys to obtain stories and opinions of the people who lived the land. This is a quality that gives the author a sense of credibility towards the reader, even if he is not a real person.

It seems that this is a feature in writing that is rarely used anymore, but Williams tends to agree with the fact that a writer should not go out and find his or her story. “My own conception of authorship is not nearly so heroic. I do not believe that writers are gallant knights who defend their readers from the dragons and giants of monstrous discourse with nothing more than their pens, pencils, and laptops. Although I do believe that all writing tasks are an adventure, and sometimes misadventure, I do not believe that writing is a sacred quest that is undertaken by solitary heroes of exceptional strength and talent.” (Williams 1). Writers don’t actually have to be heroes, but even if they say they are it brings the reader a little more entertainment and spice to the story. This is what Irving realized, and he sent Knickerbocker on strange quests to meet strange people and hear there strange stories, not because it was true, but because it was entertaining. This quality was present in Knickerbocker because Irving himself went abroad to do research on stories or essays he was writing. “Irving left Sunnyside