The Cambridge Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne

As the author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne hasbeen established as a major writer of the nineteenth century andthe most prominent chronicler of New England and its colonialhistory. This introductory book for students coming to Hawthornefor the first time outlines his life and writings in a clear andaccessible style. Leland S. Person also explains some of thesignificant cultural and social movements that influencedHawthorne's most important writings: Puritanism, Transcendentalismand Feminism. The major works, including The Scarlet Letter, TheHouse of the Seven Gables and The Blithedale Romance, as well asHawthorne's important short stories and non-fiction, are analysedin detail. The book also includes a brief history and survey ofHawthorne scholarship, with special emphasis on recent studies.Students of nineteenth-century American literature will find this arewarding and engaging introduction to this remarkable writer.