The Scarlet Letter

By: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrated by: Kate Petrie

One of the most important novels in classic literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter tackles the subject of adultery, with the notorious Hester Prynne at the forefront of the scandal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the beginning of the novel, Hester is serving time in prison for having a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing at all times, so she cannot run from her sin no matter where she goes. Her husband has been away for around two years, and she refuses to name the father of her daughter, Pearl. The father is actually Reverend Dimmesdale, a timid man who keeps his secret from the community.

Hester's husband returns to the colony, where he finds out what has happened and makes it his personal goal to torment the father of Pearl. He discovers that it is Dimmesdale and tries to intimidate him. The pressure becomes too much for Dimmesdale, and after seven years of torture the reverend eventually admits what he has done and dies before a crowd of people. Not long after, Hester's husband also passes away, leaving Hester and her daughter enough money to escape the colony and finally have some peace. At the end, however, Hester decides to come back to the colony, and when she passes away, she is buried next to the reverend, with whom she had been in love.

Public Domain (P)2015 A.R.N. Publications

Great narration of a classic novel

The narrator brought the story to life. Despite the rather annoying voice she used for Pearl, she did a great job. The story is short, but really took you back to that period. I enjoyed this classic!

An American Ckassic Brought to Life

A wonderful performance that brings a pleasurable experience to this classic of American literature.

Performance need improvement

Fiercely romantic and hugely influential, the scarlet letter is the tale of Hester Prynne , imprisoned, publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet ‘A’ for committing adultery and bearing an illegitimate child, Pearl. In their small, puritan village, Hester and her daughter struggle to survive. But in this searing study of the tension between private and public existence, Hester Prynne’s inner strength and quiet dignity make her one of the first great heroines of American fiction.

Rich Vocabulary, easy to listen to

I am enjoying reading the classics that were skipped over by English teachers in my youth and that was in the 80's. I was impressed with the the fortitude of the main character to stay living in the same town after being marked with the scarlet letter. Now days ppl would just run away. Well worth the read.

Why did I wait so long?

After reading Les Misérables, I moved onto the Scarlet letter and found some interesting and inquisitive connections. Both stories about redemption, forgiveness and eternity. We see the metamorphosis of a soul who lived a life gilded with the brand of shame, but ultimately, she became more like an angel than an adulterer. Hawthorne language is beautiful and quotable.