The Scarlet Letter (Barnes & Noble Classics Series): Amazon.ca: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Nancy Stade: Books

Product Description

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Actress Elizabeth McGovern reads this acceptable abridgement with precise, clear diction. Her expressive voice is pleasant, effectively using breath sounds and pauses to recreate dramatic moods. Her usually quick tempo keeps the text from being ponderous, but it can be slower when necessary. Given the time period of the original work, her formal tone is appropriate. Her speech changes slightly for the different characters, but there is not much dialogue. The abridgement retains the continuity of the story. Consider purchasing this version for special education students who can't handle the longer, original text.-Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Review

"[Nathaniel Hawthorne] recaptured, for his New England, the essence of Greek tragedy." --Malcolm Cowley

From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

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First Sentence
IT IS A LITTLE REMARKABLE THAT-THOUGH DISINCLINED to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends-an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life have taken possession of me, in addressing the public. Read the first page

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3.5 out of 5 stars (302 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic for all ages, July 17 2004

By

JLind555 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scarlet Letter (Hardcover)

"The Scarlet Letter" is one of those books you start out reading because you had to finish it for a class assignment; or because you never got around to reading it in school but you feel you should because it's a so-called "classic", and end up getting hooked and realizing it's a classic for a good reason: it's a timeless story that resonates as much in our own time as when it was written, centuries ago. At the center of the book is Hester Prynne, a young wife in puritan New England, trapped in a loveless marriage with a man old enough to be her father, sent ahead of him to the new world while he takes care of business in the old. But before he can join her, she falls in love and into an affair, and nine months later, the result is born for all to see. In colonial New England, where religion controls every aspect of everyone's life, Hester and her lover have committed a horrendous crime, never mind a sin, for which they could both be executed; the powers that be feel they are being lenient with her by condemning her to wear a scarlet letter A, for adultery, prominently displayed on her clothes. Hester shocks the whole village by embroidering the scarlet letter with gold thread and wearing it like a badge of honor. Is this her way of spitting into the eye of the village, or is she making her public dishonor deliberately more shameful as a penance?

And who is Hester's lover? The village demands he show himself; Hester, out of pity, love, or contempt, or more probably a mixture of all three, isn't saying. We know early on it's the reverend Dimmesdale, a young preacher beloved and respected by all, but if he doesn't have the courage to come forth himself, Hester will keep his secret. The story isn't a whodunit, who done it is obvious almost from the beginning. The book is about love vs. lust, courage vs. cowardice, and the hypocrisy of public piety covering up a shameful secret. Reverend Dimmesdale can flagellate himself all he wants in private; we can't help but feel contempt for him for not having the guts to share Hester's public humiliation.

But as bad as things are for Hester and Dimmesdale, they are about to get infinitely worse with the appearance of Hester's husband, Roger Chillingsworth, who arrives in the new world to find he has been cuckolded by his wife, who has given birth to another man's child, and wants his honor avenged.

Hawthorne tells a compelling tale which captures our imagination as much as it did when it was written. We realize these star-crossed lovers don't stand a chance in the uptight society they lived in. The book moves slowly, but in doing so it gives the reader time to think about the timeless issues of love, betrayal, deception, and the social mores that controlled the protagonists lives. Hawthorne raised plenty of questions; the readers will find their own answers.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written and Expressed, May 26 2004

By

Leslie T. (South Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scarlet Letter (Mass Market Paperback)

Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic reveals a woman with a burning letter A prominently branded on her heart. Hester Prynne's crime of adultery gains her isolation from the rest of her New England town. Her shunned existence is only relieved by her young daughter Pearl whose birth gained Hester her punishment. Reverand Arthur Dimmesdale's life is destroyed by his connection to Hester and his guilt. Roger Chillingsworth, Hester's husband, seeks revenge for his shame. All takes place in this novel that reveals the consequences of human nature and isolation.

I enjoyed this book but found the vocabulary and writing tiresome. Though I know that the writing style was appropriate for the time, some of the meaning evaded me. I did enjoy the wonderful metaphores and descriptions, along with the overall message to the book. The beautiful detail made "The Scarlet Letter" a enjoyable novel to read. I reccomend this book and hope that the reader will understand fully the meaning of this work of art.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Words Cannot Describe the Vividness of this Novel..., May 16 2004

By

Jasna (Mnemosyne) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scarlet Letter (Mass Market Paperback)

A blazing scarlet letter "A" illuminates the shame and wickedness it symbolizes on the persistent Hester Prynne's chest as she diligently stands before the curious village and its leaders. In her arms lies the direct consequence of her sin and only treasure is the crying baby Pearl. Amongst the restless villagers hides her partner in crime, secretly concealed under the blanket of his most respected profession. Despite the mocking glares and questionings of the crowd, Hester refuses to reveal his identity. But with all the pressure and Hester's former husband evilly breathing behind his back, will the guilt of his shameful crime be more than he can manage to live through? Penetrate into Nathaniel Hawthorne's world of The Scarlet Letter...
Anyone who has the ability to read should look into this famous novel of sin, evil, knowledge, and the human condition. It clearly dominates in the literary world for its indescribable symbolism, depth, and diversity of characters. The Scarlet Letter has certainly earned its well-deserved place into the world of classic novels.

~ Jasna

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great edition
The novel the Scarlet Letter does not need introduction. It's a wonderful piece of work form a great American author. Read more

Published on Dec 9 2009 by Lyra Tallis

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better when it's not required reading in school
Wow, I can't even put into words how good this book was, and so much better the second time around. The classic tale of Hester Pryne, forced to wear The Scarlet Letter as a sign... Read more