<p>Washington Irving's 'The Complete Short Stories of Washington Irving (Illustrated)' embodies the quintessence of early American prose through its rich tapestry of characters and landscapes. Irving's literary style, characterized by a blend of romanticism, satire, and folklore, set a precedent for American short story writing. This compendium not only includes the canonical 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' from 'The Sketch Boo...