Twenty-four of Hawthorne's best-known short stories plus many that are virtually unknown to the average reader. Introduction by Professor Newton Arvin of Smith College. The gray champion—The minister's black veil—The may-pole of Merry Mount—Wakefield—The great carbuncle—The prophetic pictures—Lady Eleanore's mantle—Old Esther Dudley—The ambitious guest—The white old maid—Peter Goldthwaite's treasure—Endicott and the red cross—The birthmark—Young Goodman Brown—Rappaccini's daughter—The celestial railroad—Feathertop : a moralized legend—Egotism, or, The bosom serpent—The artist of the beautiful—The great stone face—Ethan Brand—The wives of the dead—The antique ring—Alice Doane's appeal.
Author
Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history. Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.
