All Formats & Editions

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was a prominent American novelist and short story writer known for his exploration of moral complexity and human nature. Born in Salem, Massachusetts. His most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter (1850), is considered a masterpiece of American literature... Read Full Overview

An "A" for "adultery" marks Hester Prynne as an outcast from the society of colonial Boston. Although forced by the puritanical town fathers to wear a bright red badge of shame, Hester steadfastly resists their efforts to discover the identity of her baby's father. The return... Read Full Overview

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classic novel set in Puritanical Boston in the mid-17th century. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman who is publicly shamed and ostracized for having a child out of wedlock. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on... Read Full Overview

The canonical American masterpiece of sin, guilt, and revenge, in an authoritative new edition from Penguin Classics with a foreword by Tom Perrotta

Nathaniel Hawthorne's masterpiece, an iconic fable of guilt and redemption set in Puritan Massachusetts, has long been considered one of the greatest American novels. The story of Hester Prynne--found out in adultery, pilloried by her Puritan community, and abandoned, in different... Read Full Overview

Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, The Scarlet Letter follows Hester Prynne, a woman condemned to wear the infamous scarlet "A" for committing adultery. In the face of public shame and isolation, Hester's quiet strength and dignity illuminate the deeply personal... Read Full Overview

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classic novel set in Puritanical Boston in the mid-17th century. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman who is publicly shamed and ostracized for having a child out of wedlock.

Hester is forced... Read Full Overview

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Enhance your library with a deluxe edition of The Scarlet Letter from the Dover Bookshelf. This beautifully crafted hardcover version boasts exquisite design elements and easy-to-read type for a comfortable reading experience of Nathaniel Hawthorne's compelling tale of... Read Full Overview

"Thou and thine, Hester Prynne, belong to me." With these chilling words a husband claims his wife after a two-year absence. But the child she clutches is not his, and Hester wears a scarlet "A" upon her breast, the sign of adultery visible to all. Under an assumed name, her... Read Full Overview

A key figure in the development of American literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne was also profoundly influenced by his ancestors and the Christianity that underscored their Puritan heritage. A literary classic, The Scarlet Letter presents a profound meditation on the nature of sin,... Read Full Overview

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.

CliffsComplete... Read Full Overview