The Alhambra

The Alhambra (1832) is a collection of essays, sketches, and legends by Washington Irving, inspired by his 1829 residence in the famous Moorish palace in Granada, Spain. Part travelogue, part history, and part folklore, the book interweaves Irving’s personal observations of life among the crumbling halls and overgrown gardens with richly embroidered legends of Moorish kings, enchanted soldiers, and buried treasure.

Often called "the Spanish Sketch Book," The Alhambra established Irving as one of the first American writers to bring the romance of Islamic Spain to English-speaking readers. The revised 1851 edition, presented here, added several new tales and became the definitive version of the work.