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Scarlet Letter
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Scarlet Letter Paperback - 1960

by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Harry T. Levin (Editor)


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.

From the publisher

A story of love, guilt, sin and redemption played out against the stark background of Puritan New England.

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 Nathaniel Hawthorne; Harry T. Levin (Editor)
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Riverside ed
  • Pages 288
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Houghton Mifflin, Wilmington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Date June 1960
  • ISBN 9780395051429 / 0395051428
  • Weight 0.57 lbs (0.26 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.26 x 5.32 x 0.51 in (20.98 x 13.51 x 1.30 cm)
  • Ages 14 to 17 years
  • Grade levels 9 - 12
  • Reading level 410
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 60002662
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC
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Scarlet Letter
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Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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Houghton Mifflin College Div. Used - Good. Good condition. 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
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THE SCARLET LETTER

by Hawthorne, Nathanel

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good/Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin, 1960. Trade Paperback. Good/Very Good/No Jacket. Type: Book The novel was originially published in 1850 and is considered a masterpiece and a classic study in American literature. The pages are clean and tight with no markings in the book.
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A$7.70
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The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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CENGAGE Learning, 1960. Paperback. Good. 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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A$9.22
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The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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CENGAGE Learning, 1960. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A$9.22
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The Scarlet Letter
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The Scarlet Letter

by Hawthorne, Nathanial

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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CENGAGE Learning. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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Scarlet Letter (Riverside editions)
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Scarlet Letter (Riverside editions)

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780395051429 / 0395051428
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Houghton Mifflin College Div, 1960-06. Paperback. Good.
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