What famous ghost story writer's first book was a history of NYC?

And the answer is ...

b) Washington Irving

Irving has become famous for his stories set further upstate, including the Halloween classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. But he was born right here in the city, on what is now called Irving Place, and hist first major work was A History of New York, a satire of local politics. What's more, Irving even coined the term "Gotham" (or "Goat's Town") as a nickname for NYC, which first appeared in his writings in 1807.

New York Trivia Tuesday

Among the thousands of famous writers who have called New York home are some of the spookiest. Some of the most bone-chilling stories in literature had authors who lived in NYC, from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to The Turn of the Screw. But only one author known for his ghost stories was first famous for writing a history of New York. Who was it?

a) Edgar Allan Poe

b) Washington Irving

c) Henry James

d) Edith Wharton

Check back on Thursday for the answer to this week's trivia question!