[美國]華盛頓·歐文/Washington Irving
華盛頓·歐文（1783-1859），美國著名作家。1802年，19歲的歐文在《早晨紀事報》上發表了幾篇書信體散文，嶄露頭角。1809年，《紐約外史》出版後，歐文成為紐約文壇風靡一時的人物。後來出版的《見聞劄記》是歐文的代表作，包括小說、散文、雜感等32篇，以幽默風趣的筆調和富於幻想的浪漫色彩，描寫了英國和美國古老的風俗習慣以及善良淳樸的舊式人物。這部作品在英國出版後，受到歐美文學界的高度重視，奠定了歐文在美國文學史上的地位。
I was always fond of visiting new scenes, and observing strange characters and manners. Even when a mere child I began my travels, and made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of my native city, to the frequent alarm of my parents, and the emolument of the town-crier. As I grew into boyhood I extended my range of observations. My holiday afternoons were spent in ramble about the surrounding country. I made myself familiar with all its places famous in history or fable. I knew every spot where a murder or robbery had been committed, or a ghost seen. I visited the neighboring villages, and added greatly to my stock of knowledge, by noting their habits and customs, and conversing with their sages and great men. I even journeyed one long summer's day to the summit of the most distant hill, where I stretched my eye over many a mile of terra incognita, and was astonished to find how vast a globe I inhabited.
This rambling propensity strengthened with years. Books of voyages and travels became my passion, and in devouring their contents I neglected the regular exercises of the schools. How wistfully would I wander about the pier-heads in fine weather and watch the parting ships bound to distant climes-with what longing eyes would I gaze after their lessening sails, and waft myself in imagination to the ends of the earth!