The Scarlet Letter

By: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrated by: Kate Harper

This is a troubling story of crime, sin, guilt, punishment and expiation, set in the rigid moral climate of 17th-century New England. The young mother of an illegitimate child confronts her Puritan judges. However, it is not so much her harsh sentence, but the cruelties of slowly exposed guilt as her lover is revealed, that hold the reader enthralled all the way to the book's poignant climax.

©2011 Talking Classics (P)2011 De Agostini UK 2010

A Compelling Story

Would you listen to The Scarlet Letter again? Why?

I would listen to The Scarlet Letter Again because it is a compelling story that is read very well.

What other book might you compare The Scarlet Letter to and why?

I can't compare this book to any other. The language is so rich.

Have you listened to any of Kate Harper’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I believe this is my first experience with Kate Harper as a reader. Her voice was perfect for this story. Her proper voice fit the language without making it sound British. Her inflection kept me engrossed in the story. The timbre of her voice is also lovely and easy to listen to for several hours.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I travel to work and my commute is over an hour each way. I love to listen to books to keep the ride from becoming monotonous.

Any additional comments?

I was required to read The Scarlet Letter in 9th grade. It was the first required reading that I actually enjoyed. I got so engrossed that I couldn't put it down and had to pretend that I had not read more than I was "permitted" to read. As I listened this time, I was amazed by the language that I was able to absorb and understand at that age. I always had a good vocabulary, but I know there are many children now in 9th grade that wouldn't have a clue what was being said. As a middle school teacher, I know this for fact. If your child is having trouble with the language, this book brings it alive with the crafty reading by Kate Harper.