An Old Woman's Tale / (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")

Name: An Old Woman's Tale / (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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American Literature Short Stories

About This Book

An elderly storyteller frames a folk tale about a village where, at recurring intervals, inhabitants fall into a simultaneous hour-long sleep during which figures resembling former residents appear and wander the streets. A young couple witnesses these uncanny visitors, who seem both intimately familiar and displaced in time as they inspect well-kept homesteads or rest upon the ruins of long-decayed houses. The narrative blends vivid local description, domestic detail, and a melancholy uncanny atmosphere to examine how memory, tradition, and physical decay interact, leaving truth and fiction indistinguishably intertwined.

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer, born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He is best known for his exploration of moral complexity and the human condition, often set against the backdrop of New England's Puritan heritage. His notable works include "The Scarlet Letter," which delves into themes of sin and redemption, and "The House of the Seven Gables," a tale of guilt and retribution. Hawthorne's writing is characterized by its rich symbolism and psychological depth, making significant contributions to American literature. His stories often reflect his fascination with the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of isolation.