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The Scarlet Letter Audiobook

The Scarlet Letter Audiobook, by Nathaniel Hawthorne Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Kristen Underwood Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781483088181

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

26

Longest Chapter Length:

98:18 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:03 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

21:50 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

44

Publisher Description

Hailed by Henry James as "the finest piece of imaginative writing yet put forth in the country," Nathaniel Hawthorne'sThe Scarlet Letterreaches to our nation's historical and moral roots for the material of great tragedy. Set in an early New England colony, the novel shows the terrible impact of a single passionate act on the lives of three people: the fiery, tortured Reverend Dimmesdale; the obsessed, vengeful Chillingworth; and the defiant Hester Prynne, who, unwilling to name her partner in adultery, is condemned to wear a scarlet "A" on the breast of her gown for the remainder of her life. She and her illegitimate daughter become outcasts, forced to live solitary lives—until Hester's estranged husband arrives and stirs up trouble.

WithThe Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne became the first American novelist to forge from our Puritan heritage a universal classic—a masterful exploration of humanity's unending struggle with sin, guilt, and pride.

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"This superbly-written book shows us how life would be if the Westboro Baptist Church's of the world took over society. It reminds us of the importance of grace and forgiveness, both for ourselves and others, and suggests that the worst sins of the world are not our sexual sins, but rather hate and judgmentalism. It also reminds us of the importance of eliminating our facades and truly facing our "dark side," an act which Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale was unable to do. While Hester Prynne was forced into such a revelation through the birth of her out-of-wedlock child, she shows courage and depth in redeeming her life through caring for others."

— Keith (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “[Nathaniel Hawthorne] recaptured, for his New England, the essence of Greek tragedy.”

    — Malcolm Cowley
  • “The Scarlet Letter isn’t a pleasant, pretty romance. It is a sort of parable, an earthly story with a hellish meaning.”

    — D. H. Lawrence
  • “Considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study.”

    — Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
  • “The finest piece of imaginative writing yet put forth in the country.”

    — Henry James
  • combines the strength and substance of an oak with the subtle organization of a rose, and is great, not of malice aforethought, but inevitably. It goes to the root of the matter, and reaches some unconventional conclusions, which, however, would scarce be apprehended by one reader in twenty. For the external or literal significance of the story, though in strict correspondence with the spirit, conceals that spirit from the literal eye. The reader may choose his depth according to his inches but only a tall man will touch the bottom…very story may be viewed under two aspects: as the logical evolution of a conclusion from a premise, and as something colored and modified by the personal qualities of the author. If the latter have genius, his share in the product is comparable to nature's in a work of human art,—giving it everything except abstract form… A gloomy and energetic religious sect, pioneers in a virgin land, with the wolf and the Indian at their doors, but with memories of England in their hearts and English traditions and prejudices in their minds; weak in numbers, but strong in spirit; with no cultivation save that of the Bible and the sword; victims, moreover of a dark and bloody superstition,—such a people and scene give admirable relief and color to a tale of human frailty and sorrow.  Amidst such surroundings, then, the figure of a woman stands, with the scarlet letter on her bosom… But a writer who works with deep insight and truthful purpose can never be guilty of a lack of decency. Indecency is a creation, not of God or of nature, but of the indecent.whoever takes it for granted that indecency is necessarily involved in telling the story of an illicit passion has studied human nature and good literature to poor purpose.

    — Atlantic (an excerpt from the review)
  • “A gloomy and energetic religious sect, pioneers in a virgin land…with memories of England in their hearts and English traditions and prejudices in their minds; weak in numbers, but strong in spirit; with no cultivation save that of the Bible and the sword…Such a people and scene give admirable relief and color to a tale of human frailty and sorrow.”

    — Atlantic

The Scarlet Letter Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.3 out of 53.3 out of 53.3 out of 53.3 out of 53.3 out of 5 (3.30)
5 Stars: 8
4 Stars: 12
3 Stars: 20
2 Stars: 7
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very much liked this; the matter of Pearl's father confused me at first, but once it was cleared up, I loved this book "

    — Alexandra, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Love the symbolism in this. I teach this with my 11th graders. "

    — Sarah, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this as assigned reading in high school, so my opinion of the book is cluttered with all the stupid analysis of the symbolism, the rose symbolizing the joy and the thorns representing the pain and blah blah. That would have ruined any other book, but this classic survived because... well... the same reason all classics survive. Because it's great, and because it deals with the human condition in an honest way. This book delves into the nature of hypocrisy, sexism and discrimination. "

    — Anthea, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a book that I read for a class. I've read it before, but like most books new things appear as you read them in different points of life. It has many layers of meaning and although I don't agree with certain things in the book it was a good read. "

    — Makeda, 2/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The Scarlet Letter, overall, was a pretty good book. Nathaniel Hawthornes dark romatic style was slightly depressing. Although I did enjoy his detailed imagery throughout the novel, some of the words and sentence structers were difficult to comprehend. All in all, The Scarlet Letter had a very good story line and plot, however, it was a difficult read. "

    — Joelle, 2/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good book but the author is to wordy for me; one can skip several pages and Hawthorne would be still talking about the same thing. He has several good themes that I liked such as how revenge will corrupt you. His style is dark romantic and maybe if one likes romantic novels this would be a good book but I am really one for action and adventure so this book wasn't my favorite. "

    — Billy, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The Scarlet Letter in my opinion was a great book. Hawthorne committed his peice to be very dark and gloomy; yet romantic in ways the reader understands. The powerful imagery and complex vocab he incorporates throughout this work can easily be perceived by anyone reading. Although the many conflicts and themes can be hard to figure due to his dense explanations, this read was very enjoyable and kept me wanting more each chapter. "

    — Andrew, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought the the book had a good message and an interesting writing style. However, i thought that the plot was a bit slow and dry at some points. It was also very heard to read and understand. "

    — Chris, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Yes, I gave The Scarlet Letter a 2. "

    — Kristin, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Well written, with some thought-provoking sentences, but ultimately a long-winded book about religion, good and evil. Also, I found Nathaniel Hawthorne's male chauvinism highly unpalatable. The best part of his novel is the character, Pearl, the otherworldly child of Hester Prynne. "

    — Sophie-louise, 1/22/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I hated this book very much. Reading it in my English class was an awful experience "

    — Katrina, 1/16/2014

About Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) is considered to be one of the greatest American authors of the nineteenth century. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and made his ambition to be a writer while still a teenager. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, where the poet Longfellow was also a student, and spent several years traveling in New England and writing short stories before his best known novel, The Scarlet Letter, was published in 1850. His writing was not at first financially rewarding, and he worked as measurer and surveyor in the Boston and Salem Custom Houses. In 1853 he was sent to Liverpool as American consul and then lived in Italy before returning to the United States in 1860.