The Penguin English Library Edition of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 'Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers, - stern and wild ones, - and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss' Fiercely romantic and hugely influential, The Scarlet Letter is the tale of Hester Prynne, imprisoned, publicly shamed, and forced to wear a scarlet 'A' for committing adultery and bearing an illegitimate child, Pearl. In their small, Puritan village, Hester and her daughter struggle to survive, but in this searing study of the tension between private and public existence, Hester Prynne's inner strength and quiet dignity means she has frequently been seen as one of the first great heroines of American fiction. The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer known for his dark, psychological explorations of the human experience. His most notable works include "The Scarlet Letter," a novel about the consequences of sin and guilt in Puritan society, and "The House of the Seven Gables," a novel that examines the effects of ancestral guilt on a New England family. Hawthorne's literary style is characterized by his use of symbolism, allegory, and moral ambiguity, which has had a lasting impact on American literature. His works are considered classics of American literature and have influenced generations of writers.