It is puzzling to me why Twice-Told Tales is passed over for The Scarlet Letter as required/recommended reading in U.S. schools.  I cannot yet compare the contents of the two, having avoided Scarlet Letter this far, but in the context of his other writings such as Blithedale or Seven Gables, Twice-Told Tales strikes me as Continue reading

By Andreas Tille (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia CommonsBy Aaron Logan (http://www.aaronlogan.com/ and http://www.lightmatter.net/gallery/albums.php) [CC-BY-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons By AngMoKio (selfmade photo) [CC-BY-SA-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons Kleuske at nl.wikipedia [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons I went to Rome this summer; Hawthorne was my tour guide.  I saw catacombs, cathedrals, gardens, tombs, fountains, Continue reading

The Blithedale Romanceby Nathaniel HawthorneEdition:  Oxford World’s Classics, paperback.My overall rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars 19th century New England.  A group of men and women set out to establish “Blithedale”, a community of farmers whose aim is to set an example to the world of their peaceful, profitable, and simpler life.  Blithedale is led Continue reading