The novel is set in the 19th century, although it features flashbacks to the 17th century, and is about the cursed old mansion and how its dark past still haunts the current inhabitants. The house was owned by Hawthorne’s cousin, Susanna Ingersoll and Hawthorne visited it often. Published in 1851, the novel is about an old New England family and their ancestral home and was inspired by the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion in Salem, Massachusetts. “It is beautiful, admirable, extraordinary it has in the highest degree that merit which I have spoken of as the mark of Hawthorne’s best things – an indefinable purity and lightness of conception… it has the inexhaustible charm and mystery of great works of art.” Henry James, in his biography of Hawthorne, described the book as beautiful and charming: The book was listed in The Guardian’s article, the 100 Best Novels, in which it was described as “an astounding book full of intense symbolism, as strange and haunting as anything by Edgar Allen Poe, a writer whom we know Hawthorne much admired.” The book was well received by critics and is still considered one of the best novels ever published.
Sales slowed down considerably after that though and the book only sold a total of 7,800 copies during Hawthorne’s lifetime, earning him a total of $1,500. It was one of the first mass-produced books in America and the first printing of 2,500 copies sold out in 10 days. The novel is considered Hawthorne’s masterpiece and was an instant best seller when it was published.
The book explores themes of sin, guilt and legalism. Published in 1850, the Scarlet Letter is a novel set in 17th century Puritan New England and is about a young woman who becomes pregnant after having an affair and is ostracized by her community.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.) (Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. The following is a list of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s best books and novels: In addition, these books received great reviews from literary critics and from reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads. Many of these books were best-sellers and are considered classics in American literature. If you are unfamiliar with Hawthorne’s body of work and aren’t sure which of his novel or books to read, I’ve compiled a list of what are considered to be his best works. Many of Hawthorne’s stories are set in 17th century New England and were inspired by Hawthorne’s ancestors, particularly his great-great-grandfather John Hathorne who was an infamous judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Hawthorne’s writing often explores the dark side of human nature, prompting some readers to describe his writing as gloomy and melancholy. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a number of famous novels as well as many short stories that were later published in a series of books.
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