The Scarlet Letter

Published in 1850, The Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s enduring tale of passion, sin, and redemption set in 17th-century Puritan New England. The story follows Hester Prynne, condemned to wear the scarlet letter “A” after bearing an illegitimate child. As she struggles to rebuild her life under the scorn of the community, secrets about her lover and her estranged husband unfold in a tense drama of morality, hypocrisy, and personal strength.

A pioneering work of American literature, The Scarlet Letter remains a profound exploration of guilt, identity, and societal judgment, making it one of the most studied novels in the English language.