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Scarlet Letter
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Scarlet Letter Hardcover - 1995

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel


About this book

The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850) is considered the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'masterwork.' A work of historical fiction set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Puritan settlement of 1642-1949 itells the story of Hester Prynne, who after having a child as a result of an extra-marital affair attempts to live a life of repentance and dignity although she is marked by having to wear a Scarlett A on her person. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

The Scarlett Letter was one of the first mass-produced novels in the United States, prior printing of books generally done by hand. The 2,500 copies first printed sold out in days, and the mass-production of books opened up conversation about books and authors to a wider-audience on a national level. The first edition of The Scarlet Letter sold out in ten days and “made Hawthorne’s fame, changed his fortune and gave to our literature its first symbolic novel a year before the appearance of Melville’s Moby-Dick” (Bradley). Although an instant best-seller, the books sales over fourteen years only brought the author $1500.

First Edition Identification

First edition published by Ticknor, Reeds and Fields, in Boston 1850. Main first edition marker is "reduplicate" instead of "repudiate" on page 21 Four page publisher's adverts at front dated March 1, 1850 and preceding the free end paper. The brown T-cloth favored by Ticknor & Fields is famous for becoming brittle with age, and cracking or fraying at the spine tips. First editions can run upwards of $20,000.

The second edition adds a preface and has a Metcalf imprint on verso of title-page. The third printing has the same preface but has a Hobart & Robbins imprint on verso of title-page.

Details

  • Title Scarlet Letter
  • Author Hawthorne, Nathaniel
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition [ Edition: Repri
  • Publisher Bantam Doubleday Dell, Garden City, NY
  • Date 1995
  • ISBN 9781568651392
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Scarlet Letter
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781568651392 / 1568651392
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Frederick, Maryland, United States
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Bantam Doubleday Dell. Used - Good. Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
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The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781568651392 / 1568651392
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Description:
Doubleday Direct, 1995. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Scarlet Letter
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthrone, Nathaniel

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781568651392 / 1568651392
Quantity Available
1
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Reno, Nevada, United States
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Doubleday Direct. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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Scarlet Letter

Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781568651392 / 1568651392
Quantity Available
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Toms River, New Jersey, United States
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Guild America Books. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Reprint edition. Hard cover in very good condition with black boards and gold colored spine lettering. Text block clean and tight; no writings, no markings noted. Dust jacket in likewise very good condition; small chip at bottom of back at corner. A compact volume at 5 3/4"" wide x 8 1/2"" tall. * Originally published in 1850 and a perennial classic.
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