Washington Irving, his reputation having soared, has led an active social life in Paris and England, where he is often feted as an anomaly of literature: an upstart American who dares to write English well.

With both Irving and publisher John Murray eager to follow up on the success of The Sketch Book, Irving had spent much of 1821 traveling in Europe in search of new material, reading widely in Dutch and German folk tales.

Hampered by writer's block—and depressed by the death of his brother William—Irving works slowly, finally delivering a completed manuscript to Murray in March 1822.

The book, the amusing Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists, A Medley (the location is based loosely on Aston Hall, occupied by members of the Bracebridge family, near his sister's home in Birmingham) is published in June 1822.

The format of Bracebridge is similar to that of The Sketch Book, with Irving, as Crayon, narrating a series of more than fifty loosely connected short stories and essays.

While some reviewers think Bracebridge to be a lesser imitation of The Sketch Book, the book is well-received by readers and critics.

Irving is relieved at its reception, which does much to cement his reputation with European readers.