"The Legend of the Snomir Valley" is a classic American short story written by Washington Irving. In this fascinating story of the city of Snomirskoe Perelozi, the main character, school teacher Ichabod Crane, encounters the mysterious Vsyudyhid - a headless cavalryman who, according to legend, wanders at night. Irving created a tense atmosphere of unease and mystery through the use of horrific imagery and elegant prose. He wove a mythical plot with realistic details, which makes the reader overcome with fear and curiosity. The book is endowed not only with elements of horror, but also with a deep subtext, which is still the subject of discussions among literary critics. "The Legend of Snomirsk Perelozi" is a masterpiece of American literature that makes the reader think about the nature of fear, fiction and reality.