Bracebridge Hall


Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists, A Medley was written by Washington Irving in 1821, while he lived in England, and published in 1822. This episodic novel was originally published under his pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon.

Plot introduction

As this is a location-based series of character sketches, there are a number of individual plots. The tales centre on the occupants of an English manor.

Plot summary

As this is a series of character sketches, the most effective way currently to describe this book is to list the contents.

Volume I

  1. The Author
  2. The Hall
  3. The Busy Man
  4. Family Servants
  5. The Widow
  6. The Lovers
  7. Family Reliques
  8. An Old Soldier
  9. The Widow's Retinue
  10. Ready Money Jack
  11. Bachelors
  12. Wives
  13. Story Telling
  14. The Stout Gentleman
  15. Forest Trees
  16. A Literary Antiquary
  17. The Farm-House
  18. Horsemanship
  19. Love-Symptoms
  20. Falconry
  21. Hawking
  22. St. Mark's Eve
  23. Gentility
  24. Fortune Telling
  25. Love-Charms
  26. The Library
  27. The Student of Salamanca

    Volume II

  28. English Country Gentleman
  29. A Bachelor's Confessions
  30. English Gravity
  31. Gipsies
  32. May-Day Customs
  33. Village Worthies
  34. The Schoolmaster
  35. The School
  36. A Village Politician
  37. The Rookery
  38. May-Day
  39. The Manuscript
  40. Annette Delarbre
  41. Travelling
  42. Popular Superstitions
  43. The Culprit
  44. Family Misfortunes
  45. Lovers' Troubles
  46. The Historian
  47. The Haunted House
  48. Dolph Heyliger
  49. The Storm-Ship
  50. The Wedding
  51. The Author's Farewell

    Release details

All are hardcover editions except the 1823 and 1991.
  • 1822, USA, C.S. Van Winkle, 2 volumes – published by M&S Thomas, Philadelphia
  • 1822, UK, John Murray
  • 1823, Berlin, German translation
  • 1836, USA, Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 2 volumes
  • 1865, USA, G.P. Putnam's Sons, complete in one volume, by Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
  • 1869, USA, G.P. Putnam and Son
  • 1876, London, Macmillan & Co., one volume edition, illustrated by Randolph Caldecott
  • 1890, London, Edinburgh & New York, T. Nelson and Sons
  • 1978, USA, Sleepy Hollow Restorations,
  • 1990, USA, Ams Pr,
  • 1991, USA, Library of America: Bracebridge Hall, Tales of a Traveller, The Alhambra,