The Scarlet Letter
‘The Scarlet Letter’ is a classic of the American Romantic era and an historical novel that became an instant bestseller by Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer. His works often concentrate on history, morality, and religion.
This is a dark tale of love, crime, and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, prohibited act of passion that forever transforms the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the penalty of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden guilt; and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband—a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for retribution.
The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are versatile- the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the grace of a Greek tragedy, the novel brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart.
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About the Author
Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history.
Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody. The next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.
Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.