Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work (Critical Companion (Hardcover))

The Scarlet Letter, ''The House of the Seven Gables'', ''Young Goodman Brown,'' and ''Rappaccini's Daughter'' are staples of high school English classes across the country. Nathaniel Hawthorne's works and characters have left a lasting impression on writers, scholars, and readers around the world. ''Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne'' offers critical entries on Hawthorne's novels, short stories, travel writing, criticism, and other works, as well as portraits of characters, including Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth. This comprehensive reference also provides entries on Hawthorne's family, friends - ranging from Herman Melville to President Franklin Pierce - publishers, and critics, as well as periodicals that published his work and important places and events in his life. Covering everything of importance in Nathaniel Hawthorne's life and work, this invaluable guide offers a complete view of this revered author. Coverage includes: a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne; entries on his works, both major and minor, including critical surveys and coverage of major characters; entries on family, friends, places, critics, and more; and appendixes, including full texts of important contemporary reviews (including Edgar Allan Poe's famous review of ''Twice-Told Tales''), a bibliography, a chronology of Hawthorne's life, and more. "Author of such classics as The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, "Young Goodman Brown," and "Rappaccini's Daughter," Nathaniel Hawthorne was intrigued by the social and psychological aspects of human behavior. He influenced the artistic development of many of the most important American writers, and today his works are some of the most widely read and taught in the canon of American literature." "Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne examines the life and work of a writer whose exploration of such universal topics as birth, death, love, and guilt still resonates with modern readers. This comprehensive, single-volume reference contains hundreds of entries, including: an in-depth biography of Hawthorne; snyopses and critical assessments of Hawthorne's major and minor works, as well as portraits of characters, such as Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth; profiles of significant members of Hawthorne's family and social circle, which included Herman Melville and President Franklin Pierce; analyses of the culture, times, and places in which Hawthorne lived and wrote; and useful and thorough appendices, including full texts of important contemporary reviews (such as Edgar Allen Poe's famous review of Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales), a bibliography, a chronology of Hawthorne's life, and more."--BOOK JACKET "Author of such classics as The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, "Young Goodman Brown," and "Rappaccini's Daughter," Nathaniel Hawthorne was intrigued by the social and psychological aspects of human behavior. He influenced the artistic development of many of the most important American writers, and today his works are some of the most widely read and taught in the canon of American literature." "Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne examines the life and work of a writer whose exploration of such universal topics as birth, death, love, and guilt still resonates with modern readers. This comprehensive, single-volume reference contains hundreds of entries, including: an in-depth biography of Hawthorne; snyopses and critical assessments of Hawthorne's major and minor works, as well as portraits of characters, such as Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth; profiles of significant members of Hawthorne's family and social circle, which included Herman Melville and President Franklin Pierce; analyses of the culture, times, and places in which Hawthorne lived and wrote; and useful and thorough appendices, including full texts of important contemporary reviews (such as Edgar Allan Poe's famous review of Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales), a bibliography, a chronology of Hawthorne's life, and more."--Jacket Contents......Page 4 Introduction......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Part I: Biography......Page 10 Part II: Works A-Z......Page 32 Part III: Related People, Places, and Topics......Page 250 A......Page 252 B......Page 255 C......Page 260 D......Page 264 E......Page 266 F......Page 268 G......Page 272 H......Page 273 I......Page 279 J......Page 282 K......Page 283 L......Page 285 M......Page 290 N......Page 294 O......Page 297 P......Page 299 Q......Page 305 R......Page 307 S......Page 311 T......Page 316 U......Page 319 V......Page 321 W......Page 323 X–Z......Page 327 Part IV: Appendices......Page 328 Chronology of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Life......Page 330 Chronology of Major Works by Nathaniel Hawthorne......Page 332 Selected Bibliography of Secondary Sources......Page 334 Contemporary Reviews......Page 338 Melville and Hawthorne......Page 360 Henry James on Hawthorne......Page 370 Index......Page 387 This comprehensive reference offers critical entries on Hawthorne's novels, short stories, travel writing, criticism, and other works, as well as portraits of characters, including Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth.