Folio Archives 90 : The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1992
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1wcarter
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1992
Published in November 1992, this was one of the four books I selected in my first year of Folio Society membership. 26 years later, I now have more than 600 of them!
Written in 1850, this is a work of historical fiction set in Massachusetts during the 1640s, when puritanism was at its peak. It describes the trials and tribulations of a young woman (Hester) who raises an illegitimate daughter in this stultifying and judgemental environment. Hester is stigmatised, shamed and forced to wear a red letter A on her dress as a sign that she is an adultress, but eventually she reconciles herself with her fate and the society in which she lives.
It is a beautifully written, and very easy book to read, and gives insight into life in this early American colony. Many consider it to be Hawthorneâs best work.
The 252 page book has numerous integrated woodcuts by David Frampton throughout the text. There is an introduction by Russel Banks. It is bound in black buckram blocked on the cover with a decorative letter A in red and gold. The plain black slipcase is 23.5x15.5cm. and the endpapers plain dark red.
Clipping from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Published in November 1992, this was one of the four books I selected in my first year of Folio Society membership. 26 years later, I now have more than 600 of them!
Written in 1850, this is a work of historical fiction set in Massachusetts during the 1640s, when puritanism was at its peak. It describes the trials and tribulations of a young woman (Hester) who raises an illegitimate daughter in this stultifying and judgemental environment. Hester is stigmatised, shamed and forced to wear a red letter A on her dress as a sign that she is an adultress, but eventually she reconciles herself with her fate and the society in which she lives.
It is a beautifully written, and very easy book to read, and gives insight into life in this early American colony. Many consider it to be Hawthorneâs best work.
The 252 page book has numerous integrated woodcuts by David Frampton throughout the text. There is an introduction by Russel Banks. It is bound in black buckram blocked on the cover with a decorative letter A in red and gold. The plain black slipcase is 23.5x15.5cm. and the endpapers plain dark red.
Clipping from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2wdripp
>1 wcarter: Thanks for these ongoing reviews and glimpses into older FS releases. I am sold on the woodcuts. It looks like this volume is readily available and quite inexpensive on the secondary market, so I will be adding one to my library.
This is such a classic, I'm a little surprised FS hasn't come out with a more recent edition. Perhaps it is less popular outside the US?
This is such a classic, I'm a little surprised FS hasn't come out with a more recent edition. Perhaps it is less popular outside the US?
3LesMiserables
>1 wcarter: Nice work
4Willoyd
Would echo >2 wdripp: - I'm really enjoying these reviews. I love the style of FS books from that time, and this looks like one of the better ones (I only have an Everyman edition for this one).
5dlphcoracl
One of my favorite FS books - elegant design, tasteful wood engravings and crisp letterpress printing. Flawless, so much so that there is little need for a reissue.
For non-U.S. citizens who are unfamiliar with this work by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is (imho) one of the three most important American novels and one of the very few to enter the pantheon of world literature because of its universal themes. Hawthorne is widely acknowledged as the first great American novelist, so much so that Herman Melville acknowledged his importance in his introduction to Moby Dick with the words:
"In token of my admiration for his genius this book is inscribed to Nathaniel Hawthorne."
P.S. The other two "most important" American novels with universal themes? Moby Dick and Huckleberry Finn.
For non-U.S. citizens who are unfamiliar with this work by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is (imho) one of the three most important American novels and one of the very few to enter the pantheon of world literature because of its universal themes. Hawthorne is widely acknowledged as the first great American novelist, so much so that Herman Melville acknowledged his importance in his introduction to Moby Dick with the words:
"In token of my admiration for his genius this book is inscribed to Nathaniel Hawthorne."
P.S. The other two "most important" American novels with universal themes? Moby Dick and Huckleberry Finn.
6N11284
>4 Willoyd:
I too must join in say how much I enjoy these reviews. I'm a big fan of the older FS books , not only is the standard of production very high in many cases but the titles have been well chosen.
I too must join in say how much I enjoy these reviews. I'm a big fan of the older FS books , not only is the standard of production very high in many cases but the titles have been well chosen.
