| 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
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| 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
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| 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.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Adultery -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Historical fiction
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| Subject |
Revenge -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Psychological fiction
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| Subject |
Married women -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Clergy -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Illegitimate children -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Women immigrants -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Puritans -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Boston (Mass.) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
25344 |
| Release Date |
May 5, 2008 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Oct 19, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
58340 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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