Nathaniel Hawthorne was already a man of forty-six, and a tale writer of some twenty-four years' standing, when _The Scarlet Letter_ appeared. He was born at Salem, Mass., on July 4th, 1804, son of a sea-captain. He led there a shy and rather somber life; of few artistic encouragements, yet not wholly uncongenial, his moody, intensely meditative temperament being considered. Its colors and shadows are marvelously...
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