Description

From the Franklin Library Collection. CONDITION: New The Scarlet Letter: Nathaniel Hawthorne. Franklin Press Limited Edition (not numbered) "The 100 Greatest Books of All Time" Leather-bound 1978 Comes with "Notes from the editors" booklet. “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter: A Romance is a work of historical fiction by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and then struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Containing a number of religious and historic allusions, the book explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. Its great burden is the weight of unacknowledged sin as seen in the remorse and cowardice and suffering of the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale. Contrasted with his concealed agony is the constant confession, conveyed by the letter, which is forced upon Hester, and has a double effect, — a healthful one, working beneficently, and making her helpful and benevolent, tolerant and thoughtful ; and an unhealthful one, which by the great emphasis placed on her transgression, the keeping her forever under its ban and isolating her from her fellows, prepares her to break away from the long repression and lapse again into sin when she plans her flight. Roger Chillingworth is an embodiment of subtle and refined revenge. The book though corresponding in its tone and burden to some of the shorter stories, had a more startling and dramatic character, and a strangeness, which at once took hold of a larger public than any of those had attracted. Though imperfectly comprehended, and even misunderstood in some quarters, it was seen to have a new and unique quality; and Hawthorne's reputation became national. We combine shipping on multiple book orders automatically unless instructed otherwise. If you are unable to "Request Invoice" , simply buy all books outright and we will refund shipping overage via Paypal once postage has been printed. We combine shipping via USPS Media Mail . Postage price is calculated by weight . Terminology that may be used in this description: Bookplate: Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former owner, of a book. Most often bookplates are affixed to the endpaper of a book. Bump: Indicates that the affected part of the book has been impacted in such a way so as to cause a flattening, indention, or light bending. Deckle Edge: Deckle edge is the feathered edge of a page. Traditionally and historically, this was a side effect of the process of making paper. Dust Jacket: Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps around the binding of a book Ex-library: A former library book, generally containing library acquisition and ownership stamped Markings, and other typical indications of the library's use. Foxing: Or, Foxed is the age related browning, or brown-yellowish spots, that can occur to book paper over time. When this aging process happens to the paper in a book it is referred to as "foxed". Remainder Mark: A remainder marked book is just that - a mark to the page edges of a book. This mark is placed on the page edges by a publisher as books are returned from bookstores or sold to discounters. Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket. Shelf Wear: (shelving wear) describes damage caused over time to a book by placing and removing a book from a shelf. Soiled: Generally, refers to minor discoloration or staining.