Showing results by author "Nathaniel Hawthorne" in All Categories

A dark, many-gabled mansion in a small New England village houses the distinguished Pyncheon family, who are haunted by a centuries-old curse that casts the shadow of ancestral sin on its last four members. The arrival of Phoebe Pyncheon from the country breathes fresh air and sunshine into their musty, decaying home.

The story opens in Puritan Boston, a settlement only fifteen or twenty years old. A young woman stands on a scaffold clasping a three-month-old baby. As a married woman with a missing husband and a new baby, Hester Prynne could have been sentenced to death for the crime of adultery. Instead she is condemned to always wear the letter A as a badge of her shame. As she stands there, she sees her long-missing husband, who has been held captive by Indians.

From the author of The Scarlet Letter comes a landmark of American literature, an embodiment of the greed which can compel people to treacherous actions. Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables is a study of guilt and renewal from generation to generation. At the time of the Salem witch trials, the patriarch of the Pyncheon family finds himself so covetous of his neighbor’s property that he is led to sinister deeds, turning the community against his neighbor who is ultimately hanged for witchcraft. Though his plot to acquire the land is successful, the dying man's curse on the Pyncheon family comes true generation upon generation. That is, until six generations later when the long-hidden truth is revealed…. This novel is part of Brilliance Audio's extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

Daffydowndilly was under the care of Mr. Toil, who was harsh and unyielding. When the young boy left school to gain relief from the harsh treatment, he met a traveler who helped the lad follow his new path after running away. The bad news: every new person the two travelers met was related to Mr. Toil. In the end, Daffydowndilly made what had become an easy choice.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's retelling of the exploits of Hercules. In search of three golden apples, Hercules encounters the Old Man of the Sea, a six-legged man creature and the mighty giant, Atlas. For all ages, not too hard for younger listeners, and not too simple for older ones. From A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls.

A fascinating collection of intriguing and unusual classic murder stories by some of the masters of mystery and crime writing.

Hawthorne presents several ideas which form the very core of the conservative critique: that man's sinfulness is an immutable part of his character; that rationalists, reformers, and progressives delude themselves with their utopian notions of the perfectibility of man; that in their delusion they do incalculable damage to the culture, while leaving human nature untouched; and that, no matter the "progress" they make, evil lurks, waiting to rear its ugly head and shatter their dreams.

Before there was 'mall watching' there was Nathaniel Hawthorne. Watching a poor apple seller at the local railroad allows the author to share how he became connected to the old man and what he learned from him. There is no indication that the author actually spoke to the man, but you may just leave empathizing with a man observed.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's retelling of the story of King Midas, who thought he loved gold more than anything! For all ages - not too hard for younger listeners, and not too simple for older ones. From A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's retelling of the story of Perseus and the Gorgon, Medusa - the lady with snakes for hair - whose gaze will turn you to stone. For all ages, not too hard for younger listeners, and not too simple for older ones.

When you have a past filled with regret it may not be a good idea to find someone to help you dwell on the pain you've caused others. Hawthorne places this scenario in an out-of-the-way location where a woman is allowed to see the painful result of her actions. This journey comes with an awful price - and awful company. A classic story narrated by Glenn Hascall.

In the mid 1800s, Pyncheon is still a revered namesake in Salem, with the gloomy Pyncheon mansion serving as a stark reminder of the family's upper class history. However, the house - unique for its seven gables - has a dark and deadly past. Its current occupant, the older and unmarried Hepzibah Pyncheon, is all but destitute and unwilling to accept any assistance from her wealthy but unrelenting cousin, Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon.

A young couple, David and Esther, either witnessed, or dreamed that they witnessed, the return of long dead inhabitants of a Connecticut town for the period of one hour. “Perhaps they fell asleep together, and, united as their spirits were by close and tender sympathies, the same strange dream might have wrappt them in its shadowy arms.” They “seemed” to see unknown people, who wore clothing that “might have been worn by the great-grandparents of the existing generation.”

Failure is often the best path to success. If you don't believe it then you should meet Sir William Phipps who discovered that perseverance would be key to his ultimate success. From a shepherd to one who stood before the king his fictional story will both inspire and amuse. From the mind and pen of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Science fiction at its literate best with every story a little gem. Authors include Jack London, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, is an American romance written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and is generally considered to be his masterpiece. Set in Puritanical Boston in the 17th century, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who gives birth after committing adultery, refuses to name the father, and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores the issues of grace, legalism, sin, and guilt.

This collection includes five of the greatest stories of American classic horror. The richest of language is used to create extraordinary atmosphere - gloom, darkness, solitude, despair - and the relentless feeling of impending doom. Includes: "The Oval Portrait", by Edgar Allan Poe; "Ethan Brand", by Nathaniel Hawthorne; "The Yellow Sign", by Robert W. Chambers; "The Upper Berth", by F. Marion Crawford; and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", by Ambrose Bierce.

On July 28, 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne's wife left their house in Western Massachusetts to visit relatives. Hawthorne and his 5-year-old son Julian stayed behind. How father and son got on together for the next three weeks is the subject of Twenty Days with Julian & Little Bunny, by Papa, a tender and funny extract from Hawthorne's notebooks, perhaps one of the earliest accounts in literature of a father caring for a young child.

La giovane eroina di questo romanzo, condannata per adulterio nella Boston dei Puritani, dovrà portare per sempre, cucita sul vestito, una lettera scarlatta. Una vicenda dai risvolti imprevedibili, il risveglio della coscienza femminile per l'affermazione dei diritti delle donne. Musica di Kevin Mac Leod

Nathaniel Hawthorne has taken some of the most striking and exciting Greek legends and adapted them for young readers. In this retelling, Hawthorne maintains the conceptions held by the original authors. This collection includes "The Minotaur", "The Pygmies", "The Dragon's Teeth", "Circe's Palace", "The Pomegranate Seeds", and "The Golden Fleece".