The Scarlet Letter | Author Biography

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life seems characterized by continued efforts to make enough money to support himself and his family interspersed with creative bursts of writing. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804, the second of three children. His father, Captain Hathorne (the writer added the w to his name when he began his writing career), was absent at his birth and died at sea when Nathaniel was four years old.

From the ages of nine to twelve Nathaniel was unable to be active or to go to school due to a foot injury. Since he had little interaction with children his...

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