The Scarlet Letter
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Narrated by:
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John Chatty
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Cindy Hardin Killavey
About this listen
Hester Prynne commits adultery in a Puritan settlement and, as a result, is "branded" for the rest of her life by having to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her breast. Throughout the story, a complex relationship develops between Hester, her lover, her husband, and her daughter.
This recording does not include Hawthorne's essay "The Customs House".
Public Domain (P)1979 Jimcin RecordingsEditorial reviews
This classic novel of adultery in 17th-century Boston, Nathaniel Hawthorne's best-known work, is given new life in this performance. While this is an older recording with a sound quality that's less than sharp at times, performers John Chatty and Cindy Hardin Killavey are excellent actors whose voices convey real dramatic depth. Although much of the setting and events may seem old-fashioned to modern listeners, the themes of loneliness, passion, guilt, remorse, and fortitude remain relevant, as does Hawthorne's excellent writing.
Critic Reviews
"In a clear, distinct style, the narrators bring the difficult words and phrases to life; their delivery fosters the stern, forlorn atmosphere associated with Puritan New England. This technically excellent recording is recommended as a classic." (Booklist)