Nathaniel Hawthorne's tales of guilt and mystery in Puritan New England have thrilled and chilled us for more than a hundred years. He is one of the greatest American storytellers, and this new collection presents him at his best. Among the works included are a selection from The Scarlet Letter, the most popular of Hawthorne's novels ? the complete story "Young Goodman Brown" ? and a passage from "The Maypole of Merry Mount." But here, too, is the personal side of Hawthorne, presented in anecdotes, letters and excerpts from his notebooks. A unique profile emerges of a great American writer written by himself. Here Hawthorne writes about the things he values most. His impressions are often profound and inspiring. At times he is funny. "Bees are sometimes drowned in the honey they collect ? So some writers lost in their collected learning." At other times he is ironic. "The clouds of any one day, are material enough ? for the observation either of an idle man or a philosopher." And in the section simply called "Hawthorne on Life," this gifted writer comments on the greatest of all his themes. Of friendship, Hawthorne writes that "Our most intimate friend is not he whom we show the worst, but the best, of our nature." Hawthorne was a powerful writer and an unusual man?a man shrouded in mystery. This varied collection attempts to show him as he was. For those readers who are just discovering Hawthorne, or for those who want to become reacquainted with his work, here is a perfect gift. It is a book that will be read and enjoyed many times over. --jacket **Please review condition description and photos for details of item condition. Thanks for looking! For more items like this visit my store. New listings go up several times weekly so be sure to follow me. We combine shipping on multiple orders. Buy 3 books and receive free shipping.