tailieunhanh - The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is considered to be his magnum opus.[1] Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. | THE SCARLET LETTER. BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. Illustrated. BOSTON JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY Late Ticknor Fields and Fields Osgood Co. 1878. Copyright 1850 and 1877. BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE AND JAMES R. OSGOOD CO. All rights reserved. October 22 1874. Ebd PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. UCH to the author s surprise and if he may say so without additional offence considerably to his amusement he finds that his sketch of official life introductory to The Scarlet Letter has created an unprecedented excitement in the respectable community immediately around him. It could hardly have been more violent indeed had he burned down the Custom-House and quenched its last smoking ember in the blood of a certain venerable personage against whom he is supposed to cherish a peculiar malevolence. As the public disapprobation would weigh very heavily on him were he conscious of deserving it the author begs leave to say that he has carefully read over the introductory pages with a purpose to alter or expunge whatever might be found amiss and to make the best reparation in his power for the atrocities of which he has been adjudged guilty. But it appears to him that the only remarkable features of the sketch are its frank and genuine good-humor and the general accuracy with which he has conveyed his sincere impressions of the characters therein described. As to enmity or ill-feeling of any kind personal or political he utterly disclaims such motives. The sketch might perhaps have been wholly omitted without loss to the public or detriment to the book but having undertaken to write it he conceives that it could not have been done in a better or a kindlier spirit nor so far as his abilities availed with a livelier effect of truth. The author is constrained therefore to republish his introductory sketch without the change of a word. Salem March 30 1850. Ebd THE CUSTOM-HOUSE INTRODUCTORY TO THE SCARLET LETTER. T is a little remarkable that though .