The Scarlet Letter (Original Illustrations): Illustrated Classic

Be sure to use Amazon's Lookinside feature to compare our book to others.

The Scarlet Letter is a historical fiction book first published in 1850 and is Hawthorne's best-known work. Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. The scarlet 'A' she was forced to wear has become part of American culture.