"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. "
— Oscar Wilde
Nathaniel Hawthorne | First Editions
1804 - 1864
Nathaniel Hawthorne (born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist, Dark Romantic, and short story writer. Much of Hawthorne's writing centres on 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.Edgar Allan Poe wrote important and somewhat unflattering reviews of both Twice-Told Tales and Mosses from an Old Manse. Poe's negative assessment was partly due to his own contempt of allegory and moral tales, and his chronic accusations of plagiarism. Similarly, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that Hawthorne's writing was "not good for anything". However, Henry James and poet John Greenleaf Whittier praised Hawthorne's works for their attention to psychology, and subtle beauty. Today, he remains a household name, and The Scarlett Letter is required reading for many high schools and colleges across the United States.
See below our stock of Nathaniel Hawthorne First Editions, fine bindings, sets, and signed copies.
Results 1 - 7 (of 7)
Tanglewood Tales. With Illustrations By Edmund Dulac.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1938. FIRST TRADE EDITION illustrated by Dulac. 4to. pp.[xii]; 245; [3], blank. Publisher's decorated beige cloth. 12 full page colour plates, illustrated endpapers. Some edge spotting, cloth a little soiled/marked, spine ends just fraying, gift note to first leaf. Shows well; a very good copy. Hawthorn's... More about Tanglewood Tales. With Illustrations By Edmund Dulac
The Snow Image. A Childish Miracle. With Illustrations by Marcus Waterman.
New York, NY: James G. Gregory, 1864. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. Bound in publisher's green textured cloth over bevelled boards, with gilt stylised title to front board, and gilt ruling to both boards. Yellow endpapers. All edges bright gilt. Features charming illustrations of children playing in the snow. In very good... More about The Snow Image. A Childish Miracle. With Illustrations by Marcus Waterman
The Scarlet Letter.
London: Methuen and co., 1920. First Thomson Illustrated Edition. Bound in recent red half morocco over red cloth, with raised bands and gilt titles to spine. Profusely illustrated with 32 tipped in colour plates. Publisher's original cloth front board and spine bound in at rear. Binding is tight and shows... More about The Scarlet Letter
A Wonder Book. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
London: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., n.d. FIRST RACKHAM EDITION. Quarto (24 x 19cm). Illustrated with twenty-four mounted colour plates with captioned tissue guards. Half red morocco, gilt, over original gilt-stamped pictorial cloth sides, t.e.g. Internally clean, externally unmarked. A fine copy in an attractive recent leather binding. More about A Wonder Book. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Our Old Home: A series of English Sketches
Boston: Tricknor and Fields. 1863. 8vo. Publisher's brown cloth, with blind tooling to boards and gilt title to spine. Some wear to top and tail of spine and light markings to boards. Occasional spotting and faint stain to top edge of middle pages. A very good copy. FIRST EDITION, FIRST... More about Our Old Home: A series of English Sketches
Tanglewood Tales.
London and Felling-on-Tyne: The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd., [awarded] 1916. Celebrated re-writing of well-loved Greek myths in a volume for children. Crown octavo, pp.256. Bound in full green calf with decorative gilt border to front and rear board, red title label to spine, five raised bands, extra gilt tooling... More about Tanglewood Tales
The Scarlet Letter. A Romance. Illustrated by Hugh Thomson.
London: Methuen & Company, 1920. First Thomson illustrated Edition. Quarto, pp.296. Publisher's light blue cloth binding with gilt titles and decoration to spine, elaborately decorated in gilt on upper board. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Illustrated with 31 mounted colour plates, captioned tissues. Half-title toned, clean within but for watermark... More about The Scarlet Letter. A Romance. Illustrated by Hugh Thomson
Results 1 - 7 (of 7)