Hawthorne's novel of adultery in Puritan Boston. Five short works related to The Scarlet Letter, sharing its themes of sin, morality, guilt, and shame. Expanded explanatory annotations and a new preface by Leland S. Person. Key passages from Hawthorne's letters and notebooks. New critical essays by Brook Thomas, Michael Ryan, Thomas R. Mitchell, Jay Grossman, Jamie Barlowe, John ronan, and John F. Birk A chronology and an updated Select Bibliography. -- from back cover.