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The Scarlet Letter

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( 905,834 ratings, 22,983 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is set in a 17th-century Puritan community where Hester Prynne is publicly shamed for bearing an illegitimate child. She must wear a scarlet letter "A" on her clothing as a symbol of her sin. The novel explores themes of guilt, redemption, and societal judgement, focusing on the complex relationships between Hester, her secret lover, and her husband.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories about historical settings with profound moral and societal dilemmas. It offers a deep dive into themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in a 17th-century Puritan community. The narrative's rich symbolism and emotional depth provide a compelling reading experience for those interested in classic literature and the complexities of human nature.

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The Scarlet Letter

The story of Hester Prynne, taken in adultery, arraigned by her puritan community and abandoned by her husband and her lover. Combining moral force, austere beauty and psychology, it is a narrative which provides the framework for the author's reflections on the metaphysics of good and evil.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Set in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter with a man to whom she is not married and then struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. As punishment, she must wear a scarlet letter A (for "adultery").

Containing a number of religious and historic allusions, The Scarlet Letter explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is often praised for its complex depiction of sin, guilt, and redemption in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts. Critics highlight its rich symbolism and exploration of moral and social issues. Some reviews appreciate Hawthorne's mastery in character development, especially of Hester Prynne, while others note the novel's somewhat dense and challenging prose. Overall, it remains a classic, lauded for its profound insights and historical significance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781857151251

Publisher: Everyman

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 08 October 1992

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Everyman's Library

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 134.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 440g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on 4th July 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. One of his descendants was John Hathorne who presided over the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Hawthorne's father died when he was four years old. He was educated at Bowdoin College where he became friends with the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He published his first novel, Fanshawe in 1828 and after this his stories began to appear in periodicals. He in 1842 and he and his wife Sophia went on to have three children. He published his most famous work, The Scarlet Letter, in 1850, and in that same year he became friends with the novelist Herman Melville. Melville later dedicated Moby Dick to Hawthorne. Between 1853 and 1860 he lived in Liverpool in England while he was working as an American consul, and then in Italy, before returning to his home in Concord, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne died on 19th May 1864.

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