Nathaniel Hawthorne American novelist Date of Birth: 04.07.1804 Country: USA

1. Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Early Life and Writing
3. Connections and Marriage
4. Later Years and Literary Success
5. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist, born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts. He developed an early fascination with his family history, particularly the story of his ancestor, William Hathorne, who arrived from England on the ship "Arbella" in 1630 and quickly rose to prominence in Salem. Nathaniel Hawthorne's family history was also marked by the involvement of Judge John Hathorne in the Salem witch trials of 1692, where one of the convicted witches cursed him and all his descendants. This episode would later be reflected in his novel, "The House of the Seven Gables".

Early Life and Writing

Throughout and after his years at Bowdoin College, Hawthorne extensively studied the history of America's early settlers, maintaining a lifelong interest in the psychology of Puritanism and often portraying characters with Puritan roots or as the first Puritan settlers. The struggle between the restrictive Puritan philosophy and human desires became a recurring theme in his works. The problem of sin became the dominant theme in "The Scarlet Letter", "The House of the Seven Gables", "The Marble Faun", and "The Minister's Black Veil". After college, Hawthorne spent the next 12 years writing stories, which were published in calendars, magazines, and newspapers. He drew inspiration for his settings, characters, and descriptions from his summer trips around New England. These writings were later collected and published in the book "Twice-Told Tales" in 1837. Some of his most famous stories include "The Gray Champion", "The Gentle Boy", "The Great Carbuncle", and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment".

Connections and Marriage

Through the sisters Peabody, Sophia and Elizabeth, Hawthorne became acquainted with R.W. Emerson, G.T. Torrey, and Margaret Fuller in 1837. He decided to marry Sophia and found regular employment. During this time, he wrote a series of children's books on the history of America's settlement, which were published by Elizabeth Peabody.

Later Years and Literary Success

In 1841, Hawthorne lost his job at the customs house. Following the advice of Sophia Peabody, a fervent supporter of the transcendentalist movement, Hawthorne joined the Brook Farm community and invested all his savings into it. However, he quickly discovered that constant social interaction did not suit him and left the community. After his marriage in 1842, Nathaniel and Sophia moved to Concord for three years. It was during this time that Hawthorne wrote the stories that would be included in the collection "Mosses from an Old Manse" in 1846. After the birth of their first child, Hawthorne became an inspector at the Salem custom house. However, after four years without writing anything, he was dismissed due to political intrigues.

In the following two and a half years, Hawthorne experienced a period of literary success. He gained recognition as an outstanding American writer and authored what is considered the most profound psychological novel created in America, "The Scarlet Letter" (1850). His subsequent works, such as "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851), "The Blithedale Romance" (1852), "The Snow Image and Other Tales" (1851), and two collections for children, "A Wonder Book" (1852) and "Tanglewood Tales" (1853), were received with equal enthusiasm. Literary success brought financial independence, and Hawthorne purchased a house in Concord, previously owned by B. Alcott, where he moved in the spring of 1852.

Later Life and Legacy

As a token of gratitude for his involvement in President Franklin Pierce's campaign, a former classmate whose biography Hawthorne wrote in 1852, he was offered the position of consul in Liverpool. In 1853, he traveled abroad for the first time. While away from his homeland, he created only one work, the novel "The Marble Faun" (1860), which featured typically Hawthornian characters and detailed descriptions of Italian art. In 1861, Hawthorne returned home with his family. In the last years of his life, he published a collection of essays titled "Our Old Home" (1863), reflecting his impressions of England, and worked on four unfinished novels, which were published posthumously. Nathaniel Hawthorne passed away on May 15, 1864, in Plymouth.