Hawthorne
This was a pleasant surprise. On our recent trip along the Massachusetts coast, we stopped by in Salem and caught sight of Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, hat in hand, sitting near Essex Street. Born in Salem on July 4, 1804, he attended Bowdoin College here in Maine with classmates Franklin Pierce and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Although he was most famous for his novel, The Scarlet Letter, his short stories always intrigued me more. His "The Minister's Black Veil" was my favorite. The mystery that surrounded the minister, who one day out of the blue started preaching to his congregation with a veil covering his face, was one that still makes me wonder, long after I finished the reading. I got to believe the seemingly endless hours spent in the pews of St. Joseph's Church, listening to long, windy sermons, had something to do with it.
Let us pray.
his arm must have grown tired in that position, sitting for the sculptor.
ReplyDeleteFascinating info re the veil...true? Must be if you mentioned it. Did you know that he wrote 99 short stories? I was bound by my English dept's curriculum to teach The Scarlet Letter, and the students hated it. That is until I broke it down into contemporary terms. Still had my worst case of plagiarism with that novel, and that's another story in itself!
ReplyDeleteMe, too: like "The Minister's Black Veil". eerie.
ReplyDeleteI remember visiting Mr. Hawthorne's grave along with the graves of some other very famous literary legends on a trip to Massachusetts many years ago.
ReplyDeletehe seems well preserved! :)
ReplyDeleteI grew up very near Salem. The Hawthorne influence was big. And the House of Seven Gables, about which he wrote, was a big tourist draw. I have never read anything but The Scarlet Letter, and that was enough.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that one, must check it out. I did read The House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, musts in high school.
ReplyDeleteThe Scarlett letter is well known even here in France, but not his other writings.I'll try to find that story.
ReplyDeleteBrattcat makes me smile! :o)
Gosh a lot of personality in that sculpture. As a young girl The Scarlet Letter made a big impression on me (but then so did Scarlett O'Hara)Will have to look up the Minister's Black Veil. Sounds good..
ReplyDeleteThe man himself. I only read the Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDeleteSalem? As in witches?
Old Nathan looks great in bronze (?). I wonder if there are any statues around of Emily Dickinson? -- barbara
ReplyDeleteThe Scarlet Letter is one of my all time favorite books. Will have to read the Minister's Black Veil. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteNice sculpture.
ReplyDelete