Nathaniel
Hawthorne (1804-1864) was
an American short story writer and novelist. Known for sophisticated allegorical
and moralistic tales often set in New England, he was the first American author
to produce a uniquely American epic, The
Scarlet Letter, a work that sets the pattern for the Great American Novel, a
thematic form built upon a post-Calvinist worldview that intermingles an ironic
appreciation for human individualism with a determined commitment to political liberty
and intellectual freedom. Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick
and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn are heirs to Hawthorne’s revelation.
A classic of literary art and intellectual history, The Scarlet Letter
represents a definitive formulation of the classic liberal ideas that
mark the emergence of the modern world. Like the Declaration of
Independence, The Scarlet Letter
stands on the shoulders of well-evolved political and theological
discussions advancing a range of related notions concerning human
nature, individualism, community, open public disclosure, the “real”
authority of law, separation of government institutions and powers, and
the separation of church and state. Featuring a penetrating afterword by
Carter Kaplan, the International Authors edition of The Scarlet Letter is intended for students and scholars seeking to cultivate a deep appreciation for Hawthorne's genius and art.
Click here (or the cover image) to purchase.
