Born in Salem, Massachusetts Father was a sea captain Mother raised him Uncle was Judge Hathorne of the Salem Witch Trials Hawthorne changed his name because he did not like the association to the Puritan views

Graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine Returned to Salem Lived with mother for 12 years studying American past and writing Published Twice Told Tales, first collection of short stories Moved to Boston and worked in the Custom House

Lived in Transcendental community, Brook Farm - Later wrote satiric book, The Blithedale Romance, on his experience there. Married but could not support wife with writings, moved back to Salem and was appointed Surveyor of the Port Friends with Emerson and Thoreau but believed in limitations

Began The Scarlet Letter (1850) Study of the guilt and retribution in Puritan Boston Biggest success, followed by The House of Seven Gables

College friend Franklin Pierce became president and appointed Hawthorne Amercian Counsel at Liverpool, England Returned to America and wrote his last book, The Marble Faun (1860) His stories are called, “allegories of the heart” -They show how pride and isolation frustrate our capacity for love and sympathy