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Old Ticonderoga, a Picture of the Past / (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales") cover

Old Ticonderoga, a Picture of the Past / (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

A visitor examines a ruined lakeside fortress, noting its ramparts, masonry, roofless barracks, and the weeds and trees that have grown within. He contrasts a young engineer’s technical reading of ditches and angles with his own poetic, historical imaginings of past garrisons and campaigns. In a series of reveries he reconstructs scenes of soldiers, allied warriors, music, and camp life, then watches those images fade back into present tranquility. The piece meditates on the passage from war to peace, the coexistence of material ruin and memory, and nature’s slow reclamation of human works.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne
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About This Book

A visitor examines a ruined lakeside fortress, noting its ramparts, masonry, roofless barracks, and the weeds and trees that have grown within. He contrasts a young engineer’s technical reading of ditches and angles with his own poetic, historical imaginings of past garrisons and campaigns. In a series of reveries he reconstructs scenes of soldiers, allied warriors, music, and camp life, then watches those images fade back into present tranquility. The piece meditates on the passage from war to peace, the coexistence of material ruin and memory, and nature’s slow reclamation of human works.

About the Author

Hawthorne, Nathaniel portrait

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.

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