The Scarlet Letter
-
-
3.5 • 110 Ratings
-
Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
Hester Prynne lives in infamy. After committing adultery and bearing a child with a man whose name she refuses to divulge, the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel is forced to wear a scarlet A to mark her shame for all to see.
Hawthorne’s American classic reflects the Puritan mindset of Boston in the 1600s, where public humiliation was acceptable punishment for a woman who bucked the norms. Never mind that Hester’s husband was widely believed to have died at sea and that Hester and her daughter are living a quiet life of good deeds in their little cottage outside town. Someone wants revenge-and will stop at nothing to get it.
The Scarlet Letter incorporates supernatural elements with historical fiction. It’s a dark tale of sin and redemption with an unforgettable heroine whose story continues to fascinate readers and inspire film adaptations.
Customer Reviews
Scarlett Letter
Engrossing read! Rich, fast paced and yet so subtle in its simple presentation!
A for Archaic
Read it to be amazed by not only what people did in generations gone by, but also how people thought! The townspeople's reaction, their tongue clicking and self-righteous indignation are understandable enough. Hester's self-loathing is a different matter. "Live a little, woman!" one wants to yell at her.