The Scarlet Letter
A Romance
The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, is set in the Puritan Boston of the 1640s. Hester Prynne, whose husband has been missing for two years, stands on the scaffold with a baby in her arms and a scarlet A on her breast, and refuses to name the father. The novel follows the seven years that follow: Hester's lonely dignity on the edge of the settlement, her strange daughter Pearl, the minister Arthur Dimmesdale's hidden guilt, and the slow revenge of the returned husband, Roger Chillingworth, who attaches himself to the sick clergyman as his physician. Nathaniel Hawthorne frames the story with an essay on his own time in the Salem custom house. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Scarlet Letter online?
Yes. The Scarlet Letter opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Scarlet Letter free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Scarlet Letter is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Scarlet Letter in the public domain?
Yes. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Scarlet Letter?
About 5 h 36 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Scarlet Letter?
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
