Amazon.com description: Product Description: Rip Van Winkle, the incorrigible character from the early American short story, lived in the years before and after the American Revolution. However, he slept through the war, thanks to some mysterious bearded men in the Catskill Mountains! This compelling retelling of the famous legend, first published in 1819, will entertain readers as well as inform them about the life of storyteller Washington Irving. The engaging design and text are supported by colorful photographs and illustrations of Irving's famous creation.