Danbury Library Celebrates The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’s Bicentennial

Washington Irving's Gothic horror story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was first published 200 years ago in 1820, among a collection of short stories and essays that the American writer released that year.

One of America's classic horror tales, the story centers on Connecticut schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, and one of Irving's legendary creations, the Headless Horseman, who, as the story goes, was a soldier that lost his head to a cannonball, fired during a Revolutionary War battle were part of that collection.

The story is set in 1790 in nearby Tarry Town, New York, in a suburb called Sleepy Hollow. As the story unfolds, after an unsuccessful attempt asking for his girlfriend's hand in marriage, the crestfallen Crane infamously encounters the creepy Headless Horseman on in a desolate swamp, his ride back home. In a scene burned into our memories over the years, the Horseman chases down Crane, hurls his decapitated head, striking Crane and knocking him off of his horse. It's a classic American horror story that's endured for 200 years now, and tonight, the Danbury Library is going to put on a live virtual program, celebrating the bicentennial of Irving's classic novel.

The free event is being billed as "A Grave Affair: Celebrating the 200 Anniversary of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". It's described as "spoken word theater", and will be hosted by former Danbury resident, Linda Schuyler Ford. Ford will present Irving's work and will tell you some interesting Irving facts along the way. It's happening from 7PM to 8PM tonight, Wednesday October 14, 2020. It is free of charge, and you can watch it by clicking HERE