The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Name: The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne
Author: Frank Preston Stearns

By Frank Preston Stearns

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

American Literature Biographies

About This Book

A combined biography and critical study traces the writer's New England family background and formative years, follows his college education and early literary struggles, surveys major creative periods and travels abroad during a period of residence overseas, and offers close readings of key works and recurring concerns such as moral symbolism, the Puritan inheritance, and artistic development. The author synthesizes letters, notebooks, and contemporary recollections, corrects earlier misconceptions about ancestry and incidents, and arranges the material chronologically, supplementing the narrative with appendices of documents and notes to support a comprehensive portrait of the author's life and literary evolution.

About the Author

Frank Preston Stearns

Frank Preston Stearns was an American author and biographer, known for his insightful sketches and literary criticism. He contributed significantly to the understanding of 19th-century American literature, particularly through his works on notable figures such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott. His book "The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne" offers a detailed exploration of Hawthorne's life and works, while "Cambridge Sketches" presents a vivid portrayal of the literary scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Stearns' writings reflect his deep engagement with the cultural and intellectual currents of his time.