Nathaniel Hawthorne (Bloom's Modern Critical Views (Hardcover))

Nineteenth-century novelist and short-story writer Nathaniel Hawthorne is a key figure in the development of American literature. The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables are cited among his major achievements, along with a number of haunting short stories, such as The Minister's Black Veil. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne was influenced by his Puritan heritage; his great-grandfather was a judge at the 1692 witch trials. Here, Harold Bloom draws on full-length essays from leading literary publications to present an in-depth understanding of the Romantic and Gothic master. This completely updated study in the acclaimed Bloom's Modern Critical Views series also includes an editor's note and introduction by Professor Bloom, offering his own insights on the author and on the critical analyses included. A listing of major works covered in the book, a helpful chronology tracing the events in Hawthorne's life, and information on the critics whose essays have been selected add further depth. Students will find this comprehensive volume makes the most of study time and serves as an excellent resource for compare-and-contrast essay assignments.