In 1826 Washington Irving went to Spain during a seventeen year visit to Europe. It always was
his habit to write about his experiences and to reflect on them in comparison to his home
country. But when he found himself across the Pyrenees for the first time he lost himself in
a country Surrounded by all this beauty Irving recreated the strangest most gifted most
unreal monarchy that ever reared its fabric for a time in Europe. Irving's Tales from the
Alhambra were born.
