The Scarlet Letter (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- First Published: 1850
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Novel
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., Colonies or colonization, Mistaken or secret identity, Guilt, New England, Ministry or ministers, Seventeenth century, Adultery, Christianity, Punishment, Good and evil, Revenge, Illegitimacy, Boston, Sermons, Gossip, Atonement, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Needlepoint or needlework
- Locales: Boston, MA
The Scarlet Letter was Hawthorne's most commercially successful work and is still regarded as his masterpiece. The entire novel is built on the five simple words contained in one of the biblical Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” The fact that Hawthorne was able to base such an enduring work on such a simple premise is an indication of genius.
The great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy did much the same thing in his novel Anna Karenina (1875-1877) some quarter of a century later, and no doubt he was influenced by Hawthorne's example. Another...
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- The Scarlet Letter (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
See Also:
Nathaniel Hawthorne (Cyclopedia of World Authors)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Short Fiction)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Long Fiction)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Dictionary of World Biography)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Identities and Issues)
See Also:
- - For teachers, the The Scarlet Letter Lesson Plan.
- - Read the The Scarlet Letter text online.
- - The Scarlet Letter summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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