The Scarlet Letter

By: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrated by: Pat Bottino

The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, is an American romance written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and is generally considered to be his masterpiece. Set in Puritanical Boston in the 17th century, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who gives birth after committing adultery, refuses to name the father, and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores the issues of grace, legalism, sin, and guilt.Public Domain (P)2008 Alpha DVD LLC

As good as it can get...

Let's face it - The Scarlet Letter is difficult material to get through - there is little dialog and little action. We use these audible recordings to supplement our daughter's high school American Literature class and this recording was a life saver. The narrator seems a bit subdued in the beginning, but over time his voice takes on a cadance that makes listening easier and understanding greater. For active listening, rather than entertainment, we would recommend this recording highly. Our daughter was able to get through a great deal of material with better understanding by using this additional tool. If you're looking to help your student, this will make a difference

A Classic That Deserves Better

Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of sin, guilt, and revenge is a must read for all Americans. However, the narrator reads in a tiresome tone and mispronounces words. I don't recommend this reading.

to monotone

I like the story but didn't like the narrator too much.