Mosses from an Old Manse, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Mosses from an Old Manse, Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Mosses from an Old Manse

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrator: Anna Isaksen

Unabridged: 15 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: RAM Studios

Published: 03/07/2025


Synopsis

Immerse yourself in the haunting world of Nathaniel Hawthorne's masterpiece, Mosses from an Old Manse. Crafted from the depth of human complexities, this collection shines a ghostly light on the darker facets of our nature through allegories that captivate and challenge. Set against the historical backdrop of The Old Manse in Concord, these tales emerge from a place deeply entwined with American history and personal significance to Hawthorne.
Heralded by literary giants like Herman Melville for its "shrouded in blackness, ten times black" narrative, Mosses from an Old Manse offers readers a journey through stories that intricately blend the bright and somber aspects of human existence. Each tale reveals the genius of Hawthorne's craft, making it an essential exploration for those fascinated by the enduring themes of history, morality, and the complexities that lie within us all.
Discover why Mosses from an Old Manse stands as an immortal testament to American romanticism and dark romanticism. Let Hawthorne's ethereal prose guide you through a reflective journey into the human soul.
This audiobook was narrated and produced by RAM Studios, where humans and artificial intelligence collaborate to create an excellent listening experience. (The reading is done primarily by AI)

About Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. His father was a sea captain and descendent of John Hathorne, one of the judges in the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692. Nathaniel was educated at Bowdoin College in Maine, where he made friends with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who later became a distinguished poet.

Hawthorne's first novel, Fanshaw: A Tale, appeared anonymously at his own expense in 1828. The novel was badly written and was received poorly. Disillusioned, Hawthorne did not publish another novel for nearly twenty-five years but continued to write short stories for magazines, and in 1837, he was able to publish a collection of these, which he titled Twice-Told Tales. However, he was unable to support himself with his writing, and he tried his hand at community farming-unsuccessfully.

Hawthorne married Sophia Amelia Peabody in 1842, and they moved to Concord, Massachusetts, to settle in the now-famous "Old Manse." It was here that he was surrounded by the leading literary figures of the day, including: Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Bronson Alcott. He later befriended Herman Melville who dedicated Moby Dick to him. Needing financial security, after having two children, Hawthorne took the position of surveyor for the port of Salem. Three years later, a shift in political parties ended that career for Hawthorne, which granted him the time to complete The Scarlet Letter. It was marginally successful in his time, and it allowed him to continue writing novels and children's books full-time. Hawthorne aspired to become one of the first American authors to explore the hidden motivations of his characters-to reveal their passions, emotions, and anxieties, exposing "the truth of the human heart."

Hawthorne was appointed consul in Liverpool, England, by his old friend, Franklin Pierce, who had become president in 1853. The Hawthornes lived in Europe for the next seven years, where he wrote his final complete work of fiction, The Marble Faun. Hawthorne died in his sleep in 1864 in Plymouth, New Hampshire, while on a trip to the mountains.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Bill on March 29, 2020

I believe Hawthorne’s collection Mosses from an Old Manse (1846) may be superior to his earlier Twice Told Tales (1837, 1842). It boasts just as many Hawthorne short story masterpieces (“The Birth-mark,” “Young Goodman Brown,” “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” and The Artist of the Beautiful”) and nearly as......more

Goodreads review by Werner on May 05, 2014

Though Hawthorne is one of my favorite writers, and this is the first of his books that I ever read, I've never gotten around to reviewing it here until now --an inexcusable lapse that I'm finally rectifying! I've read all of it at least once, and the 1967 date is only approximate; this was a favori......more

Goodreads review by Hannah on September 29, 2020

Lots of imagery and description. So surprised by the wide range of his writings from allegories to descriptive essays all the way to gothic. Quite a treasure of American short stories.......more

Goodreads review by falldara on October 14, 2019

No es lo primero que leo del autor pero sí en forma de relatos. Prefiero sus novelas y es que aunque he disfrutado con algunos de los relatos, creo que peca de repetitivo. El mismo tema moral se puede apreciar en varios relatos y como colección de tales, los hay que me han gustado mucho y otros que......more

Goodreads review by LauraT on November 14, 2017

Too allegoric.........more