when was washington irving considered a success as a writer

Washington Irving was considered a success as a writer starting with the publication of his first major work, "A History of New York," in 1809, which made him an instant celebrity and achieved popularity even in England. This early success established his literary reputation. His international fame came with the publication of "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." in 1819-1820, a collection of stories and essays including his famous tales "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The Sketch Book's tremendous success both in England and the United States assured Irving that he could live by his pen, making him the first American writer to achieve international literary fame. Irving continued to write and publish throughout his life, including important historical biographies and travelogues, and was recognized as the first American man of letters who earned a living solely by writing. By the time of his later major works, such as the multi-volume biography of George Washington published between 1855 and 1859, Irving was firmly established as a successful and influential author. In summary, Washington Irving was first considered a success starting around 1809 with his satirical "A History of New York," and then more broadly recognized internationally by 1820 with "The Sketch Book," securing his place as a pioneering and successful American writer.