Washington Irving 
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 

The action takes place in the eponymous glen in New York State, known for its spooky goings on, and follows the rivalry of Ichabod Crane and “Brom Bones” Van Brunt for the hand of wealthy Katrina Van Tassel. When gawky Ichabod botches his chances of asking Katrina to marry him during her family’s autumn party, his dejected ride home becomes of the stuff of legend – and nightmares.