The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Modern Library Hardcover Dust Jacket
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne — Modern Library Hardcover with Dust Jacket
A classic of American literature exploring female independence, forbidden love, and the power of public shame. In Puritan Boston, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet “A” after bearing a child outside marriage. As she builds a life beyond society’s judgment, Hawthorne questions whether morality rests in obedience, conscience, or compassion—and why women so often bear the visible punishment for shared transgressions.
Book Details & Condition
- Published by Modern Library; copyright page dated 1950.
- Excellent condition, with only slight tanning to the cover and pages.
- Dust jacket protected in a clear archival wrapper.
- Back of dust jacket features the Modern Library catalog, adding period publishing interest.
- Unclipped dust jacket retains its original $1.95 price and is protected in a clear archival wrapper.
Controversy & Censorship
The novel’s sympathetic treatment of an adulterous woman provoked religious condemnation and later school challenges, including accusations of obscenity and pornography. Its enduring controversy centers on sexuality, religious authority, and the double standard governing women’s lives.
Collector Appeal
First published in 1850, The Scarlet Letter remains a landmark of American psychological fiction and literary symbolism. This vintage Modern Library edition offers appeal to collectors of classic literature, women’s stories, and challenged books. The preserved dust jacket and publisher’s catalog add to its interest as a physical piece of publishing history.
