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The Scarlet Letter

By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Narrated by: Kristen Underwood
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Summary

Hailed by Henry James as "the finest piece of imaginative writing yet put forth in the country", Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter reaches to our nation's historical and moral roots for the material of great tragedy.

Set in an early New England colony, the novel shows the terrible impact a single, passionate act has on the lives of three members of the community: the fiery, tortured Reverend Dimmesdale; the obsessed, vengeful Chillingworth; and the defiant Hester Prynne, who, unwilling to name her partner in adultery, is condemned to wear a scarlet "A" on the breast of her gown for the remainder of her life.

With The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne became the first American novelist to forge from our Puritan heritage a universal classic, a masterful exploration of humanity's unending struggle with sin, guilt, and pride.
(P)1994 Blackstone Audiobooks
Classics Historical Fiction Literary Fiction
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"After hearing this novel, readers will understand why it continues to be a classic." ( AudioFile)

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An American Charles Dickens?

Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne were near contemporariies with the Scarlett Letter appearing in the same year as David Copperfield - interesting then for British readers to do a compare and contrast. London creeping into decay against the aspirant Commonwealth of Massachusetts - and Salem in particular. Today, Salem looks all the more picturesque for its murky background set in the greenery, close to the beautiful New England coastline and 'establishment' to its Democratic core - whilst London is now the post-modern wasteland and Dickens World, the current commercial venture on the cultural horizon offers a family of four one night's bed and breakfast for ?99 plus a chance to thrill to The Great Expectations Boat Ride.
A good reading of a great read.

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