Step into the heart of 17th-century Puritan Boston with The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s timeless masterpiece of sin, identity, and redemption. This special edition presents the classic story in a carefully condensed and abridged format, making it more accessible to today’s readers while preserving the emotional depth, beauty, and moral complexity of the original.

At the center of the narrative is Hester Prynne, a woman condemned by her community after bearing a child out of wedlock. Forced to wear the infamous scarlet letter “A”, Hester endures public shame while striving to rebuild her life with dignity and courage. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, Hester’s journey becomes a powerful exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit.

To enrich understanding, this edition also includes clear, insightful symbolic analysis, helping readers explore Hawthorne’s powerful use of imagery—such as the scarlet letter itself, the forest, Pearl, and the ever-watchful Puritan society. Whether you are studying the novel or rediscovering it for personal enjoyment, these annotations illuminate the deeper meanings woven throughout the text.

Perfect for classrooms, book studies, or personal reading, this abridged version delivers the essence of Hawthorne’s beloved classic in a more approachable, engaging form—without sacrificing its literary significance.

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne, a distinguished American author, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804. He was educated at Bowdoin College, where he graduated in 1825. The great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was one of Hawthorne’s classmates at Bowdoin, and also a lifelong friend. In 1828, Hawthorne published his first work, a novel entitled Fanshawe, anonymously. He published several short stories in various periodicals which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The next year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at a Custom House and joined Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to The Wayside in 1860. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce. He died in 1864.

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About Us: Coas Books is New Mexico?s largest second-hand bookstore with more than 500,000 books in stock! We have an incredible selection of new and used books ? including regional and out-of-print books ?, CDs, DVDs, Vinyl, VHS, audio books, and games. Coas Books is family owned and operated, with two stores located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. We receive hundreds of books every day, so our inventory is constantly changing and full of hidden gems! Our History: Coas Books was founded in 1983 by archaeologist Pat Beckett. It started out as an archaeological publishing company specializing in anthropology books. As Pat's vast collection of books continued to grow, he purchased a local paperback exchange, and with that Coas Books was born. The name Coas has its roots in archaeology, coming from the Nahuatl term ?coa? ? meaning digging stick ?, and the acronym for "Center of Anthropological Studies". Today, Coas Books is run and operated by Mike and Veronica Beckett as they continue to proudly serve the community in the heart of Las Cruces.

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Coas Books, Inc.
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We accept most major credit cards and Paypal. Coas Books, Inc. Las Cruces NM 88001
email coas@coasbooks.com (575)636-1371 Michael Beckett, President

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You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Coas Books, Inc., 317 N. Main, 88001, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A., 1 575-636-1371, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

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Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	3 to 7 business days	2 to 4 business days
First item	� 2.95	� 8.12

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