hawthorne, nathaniel

Miles Coverdale, the narrator, leaves the city for life on Blithedale Farm with a group of like-minded companions. But the idealism that inspires them finds little satisfaction in hard farm labor and instead of changing the world they individually pursue egotistical paths which lead to tragedy.

Set in colonial New England, this book revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community.

Recreates the life of America's first great writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and discusses his relations with his contemporaries.