nathaniel hawthorne novel the scarlet letter

However, you might have to wait through a longwinded prologue plus endure some below-par energy chapters to get to the important parts of the book.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘ The Scarlet Letter’ is one book that can excite the reader’s mind and grab their attention very quickly as soon as they get into the thick of things.

No doubt the book is a bit unsuitable for the children’s bookshelf, but Hawthorne’s refined and courteous handling of some sensitive matters like adultery make the book even more appealing and approachable by a vast majority of his audience.Ī Gripping Story that Hooks Reader’s Attention Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.In ‘ The Scarlet Letter,’ Hawthorne pays particular attention to the cultures and traditions of a dominant Puritanism practice and couldn’t help but question the rationale behind its heavily repressive demands from the people. The text of this edition is taken from the Centenary Edition of Hawthorne's works, the most authoritative critical edition.ĪBOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Set in the Puritan community of seventeenth-century Boston, The Scarlet Letter also sheds light on the nineteenth-century in which it was written, as Hawthorne explores his ambivalent relations with his Puritan forebears. Defiant and proud, Hester witnesses the degradation of two very different men, as moral codes and legal imperatives painfully collide.

Under an assumed name her husband begins his search for her lover, determined to expose what Hester is equally determined to protect. But the child she clutches is not his, and Hester must wear a scarlet 'A' upon her breast, the sin of adultery visible to all. With these chilling words a husband claims his wife after a two-year absence. 'Thou and thine, Hester Prynne, belong to me.'

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Nathaniel hawthorne novel the scarlet letter