A dark novel. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's dark novel, The Scarlet Letter, a single sinful act ruins the lives of three people. None more so than Hester Prynne, a young, beautiful, and dignified woman, who conceived a child out of wedlock and receives the public punishment of having to always wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing. Hawthorne created a story about Puritans that highlighted both their weaknesses and their strengths. His knowledge of their beliefs and his admiration for their way of life was balanced by his concerns about their rigid and oppressive rules. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American short story writer and novelist. His short stories include My Kinsman, Major Molineux (1832), Roger Malvin's Burial (1832), Young Goodman Brown (1835) and the collection Twice-Told Tales. He is best known for his novels The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851). His use of allegory and symbolism make Hawthorne one of the most studied writers. Il Disoriente A paperback and e-book series published by Intra. Global readability, Italian charm.