Book Contributor: University of California Libraries. Book Contributor: University of California Libraries.Īuthor: Washington Irving, 1783-1859. The Journey.Īuthor: Washington Irving, 1783-1859. Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. To the best of our knowledge, the text of this work is in the "Public Domain" in Australia. This is a BBC documentary series presented by Andrew Graham-Dixon, exploring Spanish art from beautiful Moorish palaces and mosques around 1000 years ago to modern Spanish architecture. The Alhambra: From the Sultan Palace to the LegendĪlhambra, the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra, is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.Īrguably the most perfect example of Moorish architecture in existence, the Alhambra's construction process lasted over 150 years.īettany Hughes traces the story of the mysterious and misunderstood Moors, the Islamic society that ruled in Spain for 700 years.
The book combines description, myth and narrations of real historical events, even up through the destruction of some of the palace's towers by the French under Count Sebastiani in 1812,Īnd the further damage caused by an earthquake in 1821. Irving was inspired by his experience to write Tales of the Alhambra. Aided by a 35-year old guide named Mateo Ximenes, He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status. Shortly after completing a biography of Christopher Columbus in 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain.Īt first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." Irving was preparing a book called A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, a history of the years 1478-1492,Īnd was continuing his research on the topic. Our route lay through old Alcala de Guadaira (Alcala on the river Aira), the benefactress of Seville, that supplies it with bread and water.Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Thus equipped and attended, we cantered out of "Fair Seville city" at half-past six in the morning of a bright May day, in company with a lady and gentleman of our acquaintance, who rode a few miles with us, in the Spanish mode of taking leave.
E, and every meal is in itself an achievement! Let others repine at the lack of turnpike roads and sumptuous hotels, and all the elaborate comforts of a country cultivated and civilized into tameness and commonplace but give me the rude mountain scramble the roving, haphazard, wayfaring the half wild, yet frank and hospitable manners, which impart such a true game flavor to dear old romantic Spain!
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