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The Scarlet Letter (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.55) - 22 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An "A" for "adultery" marks Hester Prynne as an outcast from the society of colonial Boston. Although forced by the puritanical town fathers to wear a badge of shame, Hester steadfastly resists their efforts to discover the identity of her baby's father. Masterful in its symbolism and compelling in its character studies, Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale of punishment and reconciliation examines the concepts of sin, guilt, and pride. Its timeless exploration of moral and spiritual issues, along with its philosophical and psychological insights, keep it relevant for readers today.
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"I read this book in high school and could not put it down. I learned so much about the colonial/puritan period from reading it. I am looking forward to rereading as an older adult and finding out how much my perspective has changed. "
— Becca (5 out of 5 stars)
The Scarlet Letter Listener Reviews
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" You know, surprisingly I liked this book when I read it in high school. For all the rap I heard about it, I thought I wouldn't like it. But I felt that the characters were real. And wasn't there a twist-up in the end? I don't remember . ..it's been so long! =) "
— Rebecca, 5/22/2011 -
" I enjoyed this substantially more when I read it again after I was required to read it in high school. Hawthorne makes liberal use of the comma - just ignore them and it flows much better. ;) "
— Kristy, 5/22/2011 -
" I've always enjoyed this book because I find something new to focus on every time I read it. This time around was the contemplation of Chillingworth's moral decline. "
— Nisha, 5/21/2011 -
" <br/>Read for school. Painful as all hell. "
— Dav8d777, 5/21/2011 -
" As most people, I had to read this for a high school English class. This book is a classic and I actually enjoyed reading it and found the messages is conveyed interesting. "
— Katie.bloomfield, 5/18/2011 -
" Read for Abrams junior year AP English...really enjoyed it. "
— Maddie, 5/16/2011 -
" I appreciate this book more as an adult reader than I did in high school. It is intriguing for many reasons. The hypocrisy of piety rings through the pages. That scarlet "A" is such a unique symbol. Always a good read! "
— Geneal, 5/13/2011 -
" I hated this book. So much. :| I hate Hawthorne in general. "
— Huma, 5/11/2011 -
" It was written very long ago and to understand the writing took a little while. But good book "
— Chole, 5/10/2011 -
" This was really well done. Hester Pryn comes out of this the winner. The reverand acted like a weiner for the longest time. The husband was a cruel bastard. That's what I remember about this work. I read this in High School. "
— F., 5/8/2011
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.
About Kate Harper
Kate Harper trained at the University of California and while there received the Best Actress Award. She has appeared on the stage many times, both in England and in America, with credits that include Lost in Yonkers, Cahoots, Fatal Attraction, and Under the Clock. Her television credits include appearances on Inspector Morse, Poirot, The Upper Hand, Frank Stubbs Presents, and Hold the Dream, while her films include Surviving Picasso and Batman.