by Karl Lestar
First published 2018
Karl Lestar challenges the traditional view of Nathaniel Hawthorne as merely an emotional genius driven by mood and isolation. Lestar argues that critics have overlooked Hawthorne's analytical mind and critical standards, focusing too heavily on his reclusive nature and supposed lack of systematic thought. The book traces Hawthorne's development from his birth in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804, through his education at Bowdoin College, to his literary career beginning with the suppressed novel Fanshawe in 1828. Lestar examines how Hawthorne's marriage to Sophia Peabody provided stability and companionship, contradicting narratives of complete isolation. Drawing on personal letters and biographical details, including the drowning incident that inspired The Blithedale Romance, Lestar presents Hawthorne as both artist and thoughtful critic of literature, arguing for a more complete understanding of his intellectual contributions.
Genres: biography, literary-criticism, american-fiction, american, biography-memoir, criticism, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, biographical
Setting: Salem, Massachusetts, Bowdoin College
Period: 1804, 1828
64 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform