and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. 19. No. 549 | SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER. | [PRICE 2d. |
THE ALHAMBRA, IN SPAIN
GENERAL VIEW.
Palace of Charles V., see page 340.
Accumulated novelties from Books published within the past monthhave led to the publication of the present Supplement. Although itscontents have not been drawn from works of unfettered fancy, it ishoped they will be found to blend the real with the imaginative insuch a degree as to render their knowledge not the less useful forits being amusive. The Engravings are perhaps as appropriate asattractive; since they illustrate, and the artists hope notunworthily, the New Sketch Book of WASHINGTON IRVING.
THE ALHAMBRA.
By Geoffrey Crayon, author of the Sketch Book,&c.
What! Washington Irving, or, as the title-page will have it,Geoffrey Crayon, in SPAIN, wandering up and down the deserted hallsof the Alhambra, and weaving its legendary lore with thick comingfancies into sketches of enchanting interest. The origin of thework, (the New Sketch Book,) as it has been inappropriatelystyled, is told in the dedication to David Wilkie, Esq., R.A. Mr.Irving and the great artist just named were fellow travellers onthe continent a few years since. In their rambles about some of theold cities of Spain, they were more than once struck with scenesand incidents which reminded them of passages in the "ArabianNights." The painter urged Mr. Irving to write something thatshould illustrate those peculiarities, "something in the HarounAlrasched style" that should have a dash of that Arabian spicewhich pervades every thing in Spain. The author set to work, conamore, and has produced two goodly volumes, with a few"Arabesque" sketches and tales founded on popular traditions. Hisstudy was THE ALHAMBRA, which must have inspired him for histask. To quote his own words: "how many legends and traditions,true and fabulous; how many songs and romances, Spanish andArabian, of love and war, and chivalry, are associated with thisromantic pile." The Governor of the Alhambra gave Mr. Irving andhis companion, permission to occupy his vacant apartments in theMoorish Palace. "My companion," says the author, "was soon summonedaway by the duties of his station; but I remained for severalmonths, spellbound in the old enchanted pile."
Such is the plan or frame of the work before us. It has inducedus to select the