Christopher Knapp, age 16, of Decatur, I11., for her question:

WAS WASHINGTON IRVING A GREAT WRITER?

Washington Irving was an American author who lived and wrote about 200 years ago. Some of his work is rated as among the most treasured of the literary works that the United States has produced. He was a great writer.

Born in 1783 in New York City, Irving became the first U.S. author to win fame in Europe. His best known stories are "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Irving was the 11th and last son of a well to do merchant; he spent much of his time reading. He studied law but liked writing better. by the time he was 19, he was signing stories "Jonathan Uldstyle, Gent" and having them published in his brother Peter's newspaper.

He traveled in Europe for two years to improve his health and returned in 1806 at the age of 23. He took the New York bar examination and passed it easily, but instead of practicing law, he spent his time .. writing.

When he was 26 years old he published his first book: "From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker." It was a comic history of New York as a Dutch city and it made fun of the style of writing that was then being used by the historians.

Irving went to Liverpool, England, in 1815 as a partner in one of his brothers' businesses. But after three years the business went bankrupt and Irving decided to earn his living as an author.

He published a number of stories and sketches that he called "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." Although most of the sketches were essays of English manners and life, "Sketch book" also contained "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The book sold well, was highly rated and it made Irving a famous writer.

From 1826 until 1829 Irving was part of the United States legation in Spain. He did very well as a diplomat and with his writing and became America's first author to win international fame.

After his service in Spain, Irving wrote "History of the Life and Voyages of Columbus," "The Conquest of Granada" and "The Alhambra."

Stories and sketches of a German tour were published in "Bracebridge Hall" and "Tales of a Traveler."

Irving next served as secretary of the United States legation in London for two years but returned to America in 1812 after 17 years in Europe.

He made a tour of the Western frontier in 1835 and several more books came from this experience.

In 1842 he accepted another foreign post: minister to Spain. He lived abroad in Madrid and London for three more years before returning to his home in Tarrytown, N.Y. He called his home "Sunnyside." He lived there happily for the rest of his life. he died in 1859 at the age of 76 and was buried at Sleepy Hollow, near Tarrytown.