The Snow Image: A Childish Miracle

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Snow Image - A Childish Miracle is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1864. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, American, Fantasy, Classics

44 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1850

About the author

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history.

Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.

Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is tempting to see The Snow Image as a children’s story, an Hawthorniean version of Frosty the Snowman, a yawningly familiar sort of winter solstice miracle. This, however would be a mistake. It is true that this story, in Hawthorne’s day, appeared in illustrated children’s editions, but it was a tale originally intended for adults, first published as the title story of Hawthorne’s third short story collection, The Snow Image and Other Twice Told Tales (1851).

In fact, it bears a close resemblance to many of Hawthorne’s most effective and resonant tales—such as “The Birthmark,” “Rappaccini’s Daughter” and “The Artist of the Beautiful”—in which an artist or lover with a childlike heart is thwarted by the voice of reason and practicality, and, as a result, something unique—a fragile and beautiful something—is destroyed.

In this instance, the “beautiful image” is the snow image herself, a delicate sculpture formed and animated by the inspired hands of the two trusting children of the Lyndsey family, but later destroyed by the demands of their father—a kindly, practical man—whose refuses to acknowledge that the little girl he spies playing out of doors is an easily perishable creature, and insists that she come inside and sit by the fire.

Hawthorne is not shy of pointing out a moral:

. . . it behooves men, and especially men of benevolence, to consider well what they are about, and, before acting on their philanthropic purposes, to be quite sure that they comprehend the nature and all the relations of the business in hand. What has been established as an element of good to one being may prove absolute mischief to another . . . But, after all, there is no teaching anything to wise men of good Mr. Lindsey’s stamp. They know everything, — oh, to be sure! — everything that has been, and everything that is, and everything that, by any future possibility, can be. And, should some phenomenon of nature or providence transcend their system, they will not recognize it, even if it come to pass under their very noses.

[John Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hawthorne magic strikes again! Another delightful little tale.

What is it about this man? Even his shopping list would be charmed!

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for free here

Opening: ONE afternoon of a cold winter’s day, when the sun shone forth with chilly brightness, after a long storm, two children asked leave of their mother to run out and play in the new-fallen snow. The elder child was a little girl, whom, because she was of a tender and modest disposition, and was thought to be very beautiful, her parents, and other people who were familiar with her, used to call Violet. But her brother was known by the style and title of Peony, on account of the ruddiness of his broad and round little phiz, which made everybody think of sunshine and great scarlet flowers.

[Andria Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little Christmas story for children but the author is fond of run on sentences and commas!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel Hawthorne's command of language is beautiful. He chooses words perfectly to set the mood and create an emotional reaction. The Snow Image is a sweet short story about winter, family, childhood. Two young siblings are building a snowgirl, and the magic of childhood is there on the page, in every moment. Their happy voices are filled with joy. But some of the sweetest moments come when the mother sits inside their home quietly listening to their words. Her love for her children is vivid and familiar. When the little snowgirl comes to life they are thrilled, and their mother is able to see the profound truth in the little ones' simple faith. Unfortunately their father doesn't have the same ability to see magic in the world...

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frosty the Snowman + Campbell's Soup snowman commercial + Christmas miracle = The Snow-Image. Basically clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose unless your father is so logical that it blinds him to the wonders of life and your new snow-friends dies a watery death on the hearth rug. Lesson learned: Common sense is good but don't let it blind you to the truth, no matter how improbable and strange, when it's staring you right in the face.

[Shroomin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t like the old writing style or the plot or the moral of it.

[a.g.e. montagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

La bambina di neve ha dato il titolo alla seconda raccolta di "storie narrate due volte" di Hawthorne: The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales del 1852, segno che l'autore stesso lo teneva in grande considerazione.

Il racconto è del 1850, come La lettera scarlatta: gli anni migliori e più intensi della produzione di Hawthorne, nel pieno dell'American Renaissance. Che il maestro del gotico e del dark romanticism fosse anche un fine e delicato scrittore di storie per l'infanzia non dovrebbe stupire. I due bambini protagonisti di questo racconto sono fin troppo chiaramente ispirati ai figli dell'autore, Una e Julian. E su Una è modellata anche Pearl, la bambina protagonista di uno dei capitoli forse più belli del capolavoro di Hawthorne.
Senza dimenticare che, dopo la raccolta di cui sopra, Hawthorne ne pubblicò due di racconti per l'infanzia, in cui riscrisse alcuni miti della Grecia classica: A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys e Tanglewood Tales for Boys and Girls (1852 e 1853 rispettivamente).

La bambina di neve è una storia gotica ma anche squisitamente borghese nella sua dimensione domestica e casalinga, e la morale (come sottolinea la nota finale di questa bella edizione della Topipittori) è che l'infanzia necessita non solo di cibo, casa e calore ma anche di attenzioni, di ascolto e della libertà di sognare.

Molto belle e riuscite le illustrazioni di Kiyoko Sakata, impalpabilmente in bilico tra levità orientale e austerità puritana.

[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hawthorne's attempt at a fairytale. Okay, but lacks the roller-coaster-ride plot juxtapositions.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining horror listening🎧

I listened to this as part of Classic Tales of Horror - 500+ Stories. This story is very interesting with will developed characters.

I would recommed this individual story and box set to readers of horror stories. 2023

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written. Great portrayal of characters, even if they are somewhat stereotypes. The father in his complete faith of his view of the world is missing so much in the way of joy and wonder.

[Niklaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un piccolo libello riuscito solo in parte. Una discontinuità dovuta in buona parte ad una traduzione non aggiornata che si nota principalmente nel primo dei quattro racconti che compongono il libro. Quello che da il titolo alla raccolta. Per curiosità sono andato a leggermi il racconto in lingua originale (americano di metà ottocento) e lo stile appare molto più fresco della versione italiana che sembra scritta da De Amicis. Peccato che l'edizione italiana del libro è del 1992 ... avrebbero potuto ben tradurlo in modo ben migliore. Tradurre il nome del bambino da Peony a Papavero poi ... . Detto questo il racconto in questione è la versione meno riuscita di una favola Russa. Voto 2 stelle. Gli altri tre racconti sono meglio tradotti e anche più riusciti narrativamente. L'artista del bello. 4 stelle. La statua di legno. 3 stelle Gli sposi dell'eternità. 4 stelle

[Tinquerbelle]

Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Tales and Sketches

In compilation only.

1) Preface
2) The Snow-Image
3) The Great Stone Face
4) Main-Street
5) Ethan Brand
6) A Bell's Biography
7) Sylph Etherege
8) The Canterbury Pilgrims
9) Old News
10) The Man of Adamant
11) The Devil in Manuscript
12) John Inglefield's Thanksgiving
13) Old Ticonderoga
14) The Wives of the Dead
15) Little Daffydowndilly
16) My Kinsman, Major Molineux

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for My Kinsman, Major Molineux as part of Grost's Classic Stories in Mystery and Detection:
http://mikegrost.com/hawthorn.htm