Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer. He is best known for his novels The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851), which are considered classics of American literature.
Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804. He was the son of a sea captain and a descendant of the judges who presided over the Salem witch trials. Hawthorne's childhood was marked by a sense of guilt and isolation, which would later be reflected in his work.
Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College, where he met Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and other writers. After graduating, he worked as a surveyor and a customs inspector. In his spare time, he wrote short stories and novels.
In 1850, Hawthorne published The Scarlet Letter, a novel about a woman who is forced to wear the scarlet letter A as punishment for adultery. The novel was a success, and it established Hawthorne as a major American writer.
In 1851, Hawthorne published The House of the Seven Gables, a novel about a family that is haunted by the sins of its ancestors. The novel was also a success, and it is considered one of Hawthorne's finest works.
Hawthorne continued to write short stories and novels until his death in 1864. His work is known for its use of allegory and symbolism, and it often explores themes of guilt, sin, and redemption.
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Family Overview
Nathaniel Hawthorne came from a tragic family. His father seemed to have a promising career, and when he was promoted to Captain, he died in Suriname, leaving his wife under financial strain.
Hawthorne would grow up in his mother's parents' home with his aunts and uncles and his own siblings. This created a close family despite his mother always struggling with the loss of his father.
Nathaniel Hawthorne married and had three children.
One of his children had children and followed him as a writer.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1775 - 1808) - He was a captain for the East India Marine Society and traveled the world. He died in 1808 due to yellow fever in Suriname.
Elizabeth Clarke Manning (1780 - 1849) - After the death of her husband, she moved to live with her parents and, for the rest of her life, relied on their good graces. She and her husband had three children.
Spouse:
Sophia Amelia Peabody (1809 - 1871) - She was a painter, illustrator, and writer. She also was the mother of three children. Her talents were put to use in her husband's writings.
Children:
Una Hawthorne (1844 - 1877) - She never married or had any children of her own. She was the firstborn to the Hawthorne family.
Julian Hawthorne (1846 - 1934) - He followed in the footsteps of his father and became a writer. He married twice and had eight children. He was the only son of his parents.
Rose Hawthorne (1851 - 1926) - She was a religious figure and founder of the Dominican Order of St. Rose of Lima, Candidate for Sainthood. Her name became known as Mother Mary Alphonso Lathrop. She married and had one son who died young.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Manning Hawthorne (1802 - 1883) - She never married or had children but collaborated with her brother on several of his works.
Maria Louisa Hawthorne (1808 - 1852) - She drowned in the Hudson River, attempting to escape the flames that consumed the paddlewheel steamboat Henry Clay. She never married or had any children.