This volume provides an introduction Nathaniel Hawthorne and demonstrates why he continues to be a significant figure in American literature.

Introduction: cultural contexts Monika Elbert; Part I. Hawthorne and History: 1. Puritan themes Michael Colacurcio; 2. American Revolution Derek Pacheco; 3. Native American presence Laura L. Mielke; 4. Slavery and the Civil War Larry J. Reynolds; 5. Race and ethnicity Leonardo Buonomo; 6. Capitalism and social class Joel Pfister; 7. Women's Rights Movement Nancy Sweet; 8. Religion Martin Kevorkian; Part II. Popular Culture and Social Movements: 9. Utopianism Evert Jan van Leeuwen; 10. Mesmerism and other pseudo-sciences Samuel Coale; 11. Urban landscapes Ellen Weinauer; 12. Gender roles David Greven; 13. Melodrama and drama Margaret Jay Jessee; 14. Visual arts Susan S. Williams; 15. Cinematic adaptations Kristen Boudreau; Part III. Hawthorne and the Literary Marketplace: 16. Print culture Lesley Ginsberg; 17. American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge David Cody; 18. Literary sketches Kristie Hamilton; 19. Children's literature Laura Laffrado; 20. Romance genre Leland S. Person; 21. The unfinished romances Magnus Ullén; Part IV. Hawthorne and Literary Traditions: 22. Romantic predecessors Michael Cody; 23. Hawthorne and Poe Richard Kopley; 24. Hawthorne and Melville Les Harrison; 25. Transcendentalism Jonathan Murphy; 26. Sentiment and sentimentality Marianne Noble; 27. Gothic fiction Alfred Bendixen; 28. Science fiction Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock; 29. Transnationalism and magical realism Ricardo Miguel-Alfonso; Part V. Family and Place: 30. Marriage Patricia Valenti; 31. Hawthorne's biographers Frederick Newberry; 32. Natural landscapes Steven Petersheim; 33. Salem, Bowdoin, and Concord Melissa McFarland Pennell; 34. Hawthorne in England James Hewitson; 35. Hawthorne in Italy Rita Bode; Further reading; Index.