Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer renowned for his contributions to American literature during the 19th century. He is best known for his works exploring themes of sin, guilt, and the dark side of human nature.
Here’s an overview of his life and contributions:
Early Life:
Birth: Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, into a family with a history of involvement in the Salem witch trials. This ancestry had a lasting impact on his writing.
Education: He attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he met future literary greats like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Horatio Bridge.
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| Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne |
Hawthorne’s Writing Career:
Early Works: Hawthorne began his writing career with short stories and essays, some of which were published anonymously. He later published his first collection of stories, “Twice-Told Tales,” in 1837.
Custom House: Hawthorne worked at the Salem Custom House for several years, an experience that influenced his later work, “The Scarlet Letter.”
Novels and Major Works:
“The Scarlet Letter” (1850): This novel is perhaps his most famous work, exploring themes of sin and redemption in 17th-century Puritan New England.
“The House of the Seven Gables” (1851): This novel delves into themes of guilt, curses, and the consequences of the past on the present.
“The Blithedale Romance” (1852): Drawing inspiration from his time at Brook Farm, a transcendentalist commune, this novel examines communal living and the complexities of human relationships.
“The Marble Faun” (1860): This work, set in Rome, explores themes of art, beauty, and the dark side of human nature.
Personal Life of Nathaniel Hawthorne:
Marriage: Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody in 1842, and they had three children.
Brook Farm: The Hawthornes briefly joined the transcendentalist community at Brook Farm but left due to financial difficulties.
Diplomatic Service: He served as U.S. consul in Liverpool, England, from 1853 to 1857, a position he obtained through political connections.
Later Life and Death:
Return to America: Hawthorne returned to the United States in 1860 and settled in Concord, Massachusetts, where he continued to write.
Death: Nathaniel Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Hawthorne’s literary works are celebrated for their exploration of the human psyche and their deep psychological insights. His contributions to American literature, particularly in the realm of the psychological novel, have had a lasting influence and continue to be studied and revered by readers and scholars.