| Author |
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864 |
| Title |
Twice-Told Tales
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 64.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Contents |
The gray champion -- The wedding knell -- The minister's black veil -- The Maypole of Merry Mount -- The gentle boy -- Mr. Higginbotham's catastrophe -- Wakefield -- The great carbuncle -- David Swan -- The hollow of the three hills -- Dr. Heidegger's experiment -- Legends of the Province House: Howe's masquerade. Edward Randolph's portrait. Lady Eleanore's mantle. Old Esther Dudley -- The ambitious guest -- Peter Goldthwaite's treasure -- The Shaker bridal -- Endicott and the Red Cross.
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| Credits |
Produced by Charles Keller. HTML version by Al Haines.
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| Summary |
"Twice-Told Tales" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a collection of short stories written during the early 19th century. This anthology features an array of tales that blend historical narratives with moral and philosophical explorations, often centered around themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in the human experience. Among the stories are intriguing characters and settings, such as the stoic figure of the Gray Champion and the complex dynamics of love and mortality explored in "The Wedding Knell." The opening of "Twice-Told Tales" introduces readers to "The Gray Champion," recounting a time of turmoil in New England under the rule of Sir Edmund Andros, where the colonists grapple with oppression and a loss of freedom. The narrative sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation of authority, as the appearance of the Gray Champion—a venerated, ancient figure—stirs hope and resistance among the townspeople facing tyranny. The story combines historical elements with supernatural undertones, framing the Gray Champion as a symbol of the enduring spirit of New England. In contrast, "The Wedding Knell" presents a different yet equally haunting exploration of love and loss, as a widow prepares for her marriage only to confront the spectral presence of her past. This juxtaposition of themes showcases Hawthorne's range in examining the human heart and societal constraints. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Short stories
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| Subject |
New England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Historical fiction, American
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
508 |
| Release Date |
Apr 1, 1996 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Apr 11, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
350 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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