Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Born:
- July 4, 1804, Salem, Massachusetts, USA
- Died:
- May 19, 1864, Plymouth, New Hampshire, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Short Story Writer
Early Life and Education
- Born Nathaniel Hathorne; added the 'w' later.
- Descended from early Puritan settlers of Massachusetts.
- His father, a sea captain, died when Hawthorne was four years old.
- Attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, graduating in 1825.
- Read widely in history and literature during his extended period of self-education after college.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began publishing short stories and sketches anonymously.
- Worked as a weigher and gauger in the Boston Custom House (1839-1841).
- Briefly joined the Brook Farm utopian community.
- Served as surveyor of the Salem Custom House (1846-1849).
- His experience in the Salem Custom House provided inspiration and material for the introductory essay in The Scarlet Letter.
- Appointed U.S. Consul to Liverpool, England (1853-1857) by President Franklin Pierce.
- Traveled and lived in Italy for a period after his consulship.
Notable Works
- Twice-Told Tales (1837, 1842)
- Mosses from an Old Manse (1846)
- The Scarlet Letter (1850) - often referenced when researching a 'nathaniel hawthorne biography scarlet letter book'
- The House of the Seven Gables (1851)
- The Blithedale Romance (1852)
- The Marble Faun (1860)
Legacy and Impact
Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered a major figure in American literature, known for his dark romanticism and exploration of sin, guilt, and moral hypocrisy in Puritan society. His works continue to be studied and adapted, influencing generations of writers.