The work is a collection of essays that reevaluate the literary reputation of Nathaniel Hawthorne. It presents a more nuanced and complex view of his life and works, challenging earlier criticisms of him as a writer of mere romance. The essays explore themes of morality, guilt, and the human condition in Hawthorne's fiction.
By Herman Melville · First published 1862 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Essay, Non-fiction