Mass production of books was just taking off in the United States when The Scarlet Letter was published. Before the rise of mechanized printing in the mid-19th century, many books were handmade and sold in small quantities. The first printing of The Scarlet Letter included 2,500 copies, which sold out in 10 days. [1]
On 16 March 1850 the publication of the novel, The Scarlet Letter launched author Nathaniel Hawthorne into the literary limelight. The book, which became an instant bestseller, has been called one of the great American novels as well as America’s first psychological novel.
The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman in 17th-century Puritan New England who is found guilty of adultery and forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest as a symbol of her sin. The narrative opens with Hester emerging from prison, holding her infant daughter Pearl in her arms, and standing on a scaffold before the townspeople who have come to witness her public shaming. Hester refuses to reveal the identity of her lover, and as the story progresses, her strength and independence emerge, as does Pearl’s rebellious spirit. Despite the condemnation of the townspeople, she becomes a respected figure for her charity and good works.
The Scarlet Letter is a complex and nuanced work that explores the nature of sin, the power of guilt and redemption, and the ways in which society tries to control and punish individuals. Hawthorne’s rich language and vivid descriptions bring the Puritan world to life, while his exploration of the psychological and emotional states of his characters makes the novel a timeless masterpiece.
For Hawthorne, who was 45 when the book was published, its overnight success brought relief from both obscurity and penury. Despite publishing several short stories in periodicals, he had never made more than a meagre living as a writer and supported his family for a time by weighing coal and salt shipments at Boston’s Custom House. The Scarlet Letter allowed him to purchase a home and insured him an audience, but it didn’t make him rich. Despite its successful reception, Hawthorne only made $1,500 from the book over the remaining 14 years of his life and was never able to escape the money troubles that plagued him.
The Scarlet Letter was one of the first mass-produced books in the United States. It was popular when first published and is now considered a classic work of American literature. Critics have described it as a masterwork, and novelist D. H. Lawrence called it a “perfect work of the American imagination”. The novel has inspired film, television, and stage adaptations.