The Essential Nathaniel Hawthorne: Mosses from an Old Manse, Twice-Told Tales, The Scarlet Letter, The Marble Faun, and The House of the Seven Gables

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Five great works about sin, redemption, and human passion by a masterful nineteenth-century American novelist.

Including both novels and short story collections, this volume showcases the brilliance of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Mosses from an Old Manse: A collection of Hawthorne's short stories, praised by Herman Melville as "his masterpiece."

Twice-Told Tales: Short fiction that "comes from the hand of a man of genius" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).

The Scarlet Letter: This iconic historical novel set in seventeenth-century New England tells the story of Hester Prynne--"among the first and most important female protagonists in American literature"--who is shunned by her Puritan community for committing adultery (NPR).

The Marble Faun: The thrilling tale of three American artists whose search for creative inspiration leads to romance and murder.

The House of the Seven Gables: A family burdened by the sins of their forebears seeks redemption in this gothic masterpiece.

1568 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2020

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.