The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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About this eBook

Author Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864
Engraver Anthony, A. V. S. (Andrew Varick Stout), 1835-1906
Illustrator Foote, Mary Hallock, 1847-1938
Illustrator Ipsen, Ludvig Sandöe
Title The Scarlet Letter
Note Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Letter
Note Reading ease score: 65.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Markus Brenner, Irma Spehar and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Summary "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classic novel written in the mid-19th century. The book delves into themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, primarily exploring the life of Hester Prynne, a woman shunned by her Puritan community after bearing an illegitimate child. Through her experiences and struggles, the narrative examines the societal and personal ramifications of moral transgressions. At the start of the novel, the author introduces the setting, a dilapidated jail in colonial Boston, where a crowd has gathered to witness the punishment of Hester Prynne. The scene conveys a deep sense of Puritanical severity, showing the townspeople's intense scrutiny over Hester, who stands accused of adultery. Hawthorne sets a somber tone as he describes the prison and its surroundings, including a wild rosebush that offers a stark contrast to the grimness of the prison, symbolizing hope and compassion amidst human frailty. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Adultery -- Fiction
Subject Historical fiction
Subject Revenge -- Fiction
Subject Psychological fiction
Subject Married women -- Fiction
Subject Clergy -- Fiction
Subject Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
Subject Illegitimate children -- Fiction
Subject Women immigrants -- Fiction
Subject Puritans -- Fiction
Subject Boston (Mass.) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 25344
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Oct 19, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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