Summary

The Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale of love, adversity, and community morals in Puritan New England. Forced to wear the scarlet “A” after committing adultery and bearing a child, Hester Prynne lives on the outskirts of society; visited by the Reverend Dimmesdale and watched over by Roger Chillingworth, she is both at the mercy and defiant of the values that shape her fate and that of her child.

Literary Significance

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter was one of the first works of American literature to address themes of sexuality, morality, and spirituality from a uniquely American perspective. Because of Hawthorne's literary credentials, the novel was not censored upon publication despite its risqué subject matter, and continues to be recognized as a relevant literary classic even in modern times.

Publisher's Note

HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.