The Scarlet Letter cover art

The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter

By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Narrated by: Michael Learned
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About this listen

Written in the winter of 1849, The Scarlet Letter unfolds the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman branded as an adulteress in the harsh Puritan world of 17th-century New England. As Hester calls on her inner strength to transcend her shame, the scarlet letter ceases to be a stigma and finally becomes Hester's symbol of self-affirmation. This dramatic reading heightens the sense of lyric poetry that permeates every line of Nathaniel Hawthorne's great novel.

Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Renaissance Romance Women's Fiction American Literature

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All stars
Most relevant
I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this book. But I found it an interesting read. I like how it explores womens 'shame' but the way it touched on the priests unseen shame was also interesting. And the way the doctor was affected or almost corrupted by it was fascinating.

I like the style in which it was written. It feels Shakespeairen but more accessible. I almost wish we could have studied this at school who knows it might have helped.

I listened to the audio version of this and the narration was extremely well done. With something like this the narration is really important. But they seem to have got it just right.

A Very Interesting Read

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Michael Learned's voice is both soothing and engaging. Sadly, despite what it says, this is not unabridged, many passages are skipped and so is the introduction.

NOT UNABRIDGED

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I wish I could say it’s outdated, but the religious right in the US are probably still led by the wrong-minded morals of this book, 200 years after it was written and 400 from when it is set - a time if superstition and injustice.

The Patriarchy writ large

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I just really didn’t like this. Although it was short it felt like a slog. Really didn’t feel the love.

Miss the mark.

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The voice was incredible and you wrote sucked into the world. A short story that is finished with a good ending.

Historical Journey

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