Washington Irving’s classic ghost story about a headless horseman is part of Story of America, a major collection of dramatisations marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence .
Sami Ibrahim's adaptation gives a new twist to the tale of Ichabod Crane who unleashes malevolent forces when his new-fangled ideas disrupt the traditional way of life in Sleepy Hollow.
Published in 1820, thirty-seven years after the Revolutionary War, Sleepy Hollow is recognised by the Library of Congress as one of the stories that helped shape America. Through this work Irving sets out his vision of those values he feels are important when it comes to forging a new nation in the wake of a violent war. He raises questions about insularity and whether it’s a good thing; he wonders if new world ambition is driven by greed and warns against market forces entering all walks of life.
There’s also a message about the power of storytelling, how truth is set aside if it gets in the way of telling the best story.
Alix Wilton Regan stars as Aletta in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, airing on Sunday 25th January at 3pm on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Alix Wilton Regan stars as Aletta in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, airing on Sunday 25th January at 3pm on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.