Cover of The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850

American novelist, 1804–1864.

The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

  • Critics' Darling

In historical fiction

On 2 of the 12 lists it was eligible for.

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At a glance

Author
Nathaniel Hawthorne
First published
1850
Length
224 pages (UK paperback)
Genre
Historical fiction, Religion and faith, Love story, Class and society

Is The Scarlet Letter worth reading?

2 of the 12 best-of lists it could have made include it: The 100 best novels written in English (The Guardian / Observer) and The 100 greatest novels of all time (The Observer).

ListPlaceOriginal
The 100 best novels written in English (The Guardian / Observer, 2015)ListedSee the list
The 100 greatest novels of all time (The Observer, 2003)ListedSee the list

Best edition of The Scarlet Letter

The edition we link to is the Wordsworth Editions paperback (1992), 224 pages.

Publisher
Wordsworth Editions (paperback, 1992)
Pages
224
ISBN
9781853260292

How critics and readers rate The Scarlet Letter

Critics rate it most highly: it earned 23% of the points available on critics' lists, against 0% on readers' and booksellers' lists.

Critics
23%
Prizes
Not eligible for any of these lists yet
Readers and booksellers
0%

Share of the available points it earned on each kind of list it was eligible for. How the scores work

Books like The Scarlet Letter

If you liked The Scarlet Letter, try Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights or War and Peace.

Lists used on this page