"Twice-Told Tales" by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Reader's Digest World's Best Reading edition)

Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Twice-Told Tales" is a collection of short stories and sketches that explore the dark side of human nature. The stories are set in New England and are inspired by Puritanical themes and the supernatural. Hawthorne's writing is full of symbolism and psychological themes, making it a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers. With its diverse range of characters, themes, and settings, "Twice-Told Tales" is a must-read for those interested in literature and the exploration of the human psyche.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works are deeply rooted in Puritanism, a branch of Protestantism that originated in England during the 16th century. Hawthorne's stories are often based on moral and religious themes and explore the psychological complexities of guilt, sin, and pride. He is best known for his novels The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851). Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and was a descendant of a Puritan family of English origin. He attended Bowdoin College, where he befriended the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. After graduating in 1825, Hawthorne moved back to Salem and wrote his first novel, Fanshawe, which was published in 1828. He then wrote a series of short stories for magazines and journals, including “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Minister's Black Veil.” In 1842, Hawthorne moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where he wrote The Scarlet Letter, a novel about a woman who is publicly shamed for having a child out of wedlock. The novel was a success and Hawthorne was recognized as a major American writer. He continued to write throughout the 1840s and 1850s, including The House of the Seven Gables and The Blithedale Romance. Hawthorne's works remain popular today and continue to be studied by academics and readers alike. His stories explore themes of morality and religion, and his style is characterized by complex symbolism and psychological depth. Hawthorne's works are considered to be some of the most important pieces of American literature.