The Scarlet Letter
by Nathaniel Hawthorne

(July 4, 1804-May 19, 1864)

Introduction To "The Scarlet Letter"

Born in Salem, Massachusetts into an old Puritan family, the influence of geography and religion are evident in Hawthorne's books. This tale of sin, guilt, and atonement in colonial New England is considered by some to be an American masterpiece.

The Custom House was included by Hawthorne as "an introductory" to The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne thought The Scarlet Letter to be too short to stand alone so included this essay. It is not an integral part of The Scarlet Letter and the reader may leave it for another time and begin with Chapter One.