The Scarlet Letter: A Romance
(Part of the Ellery Queen Detective (#24) Series, Columbia Critical Guides Series, and Kolekcja Arcydzie Literatury wiatowej Series)
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
The Scarlet Letter , by Nathaniel Hawthorne , is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics ? series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics : New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences--biographical, historical, and literary--to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. ? America's first psychological novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is a dark tale of love, crime, and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the punishment of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden gui< and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester's husband--a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for vengeance. The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are universal--the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the elegance of a Greek tragedy, The Scarlet Letter brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart. Nancy Stade is trained as a lawyer and has worked in the federal government and the private sector. She currently lives in Mexico, where she is working on a novel.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:159308207X
ISBN13:9781593082079
Release Date:December 2004
Publisher:Barnes & Noble
Length:237 Pages
Weight:0.56 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 5.2" x 8.1"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
It's one of my favorite books I read when I in school for a book report and I like it alot
Published by Elizabeth , 5 months ago
It's a great moving story
Scarlet Letter
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This edition of _The Scarlet Letter_ has excellent textual criticism. It is a great edition for teachers and students alike.
A Story I've Never Forgotten!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I read this book in high school - nearly 20 years ago now - and I have yet to forget the storyline. In fact, although written in a language of a different time, we can find some of the same types of actions happening today - albeit in a more subtle manner. Overall, this is the story of a young woman who committed adultery, and is caught because she becomes pregnant at a time when abortion was not an option. Although many other people in her puritan community have committed the same "transgression", they haven't been caught yet (i.e. haven't become pregnant), so they participate in ruining this woman's reputation by forcing her to wear a scarlet "A", to symbolize her adulterous nature. I believe that in our society, people tend to do the same thing - they participate in gossip/making fun of people who have been unlucky enough to be caught doing the same thing many other's are doing day in and day out. For this reason, I feel as though this story is as relevant today as it was when it was written. I do have to agree that the writing is a bit difficult to get through, as the language is quite different than what we are now used to. But, if you have the time and patience to work through it, I think you will find it to be quite an eye-opener.
Nobody's Perfect
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
I chose to read this book because of its status as a classic in American literature. I chose to continue it because I looked with sympathy, horror, and amazement at the protagonist, the priest, the physician, and the illegitimate child. There were moments when I was downright afraid of the child, Pearl, and convinved she must be demonic. I regarded Roger Chillingworth, the antagonist, as a generally benign, justice-seeking man. The protagonist, in light of her background, appeared to have little to defend herself with.But as the book progressed, it became apparent that Hawthorne had painted the portraits of characters more human than many of the people I know! Did Hestor Prynne utter words of (gasp!) sexual liberation? Or was that just my hindsight vision? Could Mr. Dimmesdale really be such a coward? Or was he truly a benevolent, if imperfect, man?In truth, regardless of what anyone else sees in The Scarlet Letter, I found a compelling story that encoruaged me to reëvaluate certain beliefs, and to enshrine others. No wonder it's a classic!I highly recommend this book.
The Scarlet Letter
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
This was an interesting book. I liked the plot, but the author really needed to wrap up those words that I didn't understand. I mean, I can define any one of the words in the book, save few, but using about 5 of them in one sentence just makes me too confused to try to get into the story like I normally do.
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance Mentions in Our Blog
The Essential John Irving
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • March 01, 2021
This week we celebrate the birthday of acclaimed American-Canadian author John Irving, born on March 3, 1942. With a career that has spanned five decades, his work is marked by a tension between tradition and nonconformity, reverence and rebellion. Here we highlight five of his essential titles, as well as their screen adaptations.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
