Nathaniel Hawthorne is regarded as one of the masters of early American short fiction. Long-time fans and curious newcomers will appreciate this collection of Hawthorne's short stories, which brings together some of his most important early work and was praised by a chorus of illustrious contemporaries such as Melville, Poe, and Whitman.

The Greatest Greek Myths Retold for Children

"Dear mother," said Proserpina, "I shall be very lonely while you are away. May I not run down to the shore, and ask some of the sea nymphs to come up out of the waves and play with me?"
"Yes, child," answered Mother Ceres. "The sea nymphs are good creatures, and will never lead you into any harm. But you must take care not to stray away from them, nor go wandering about the fields

One of Nathaniel Hawthorne's later works, Septimius Felton is a beguiling and thought-provoking tale of murder most foul. One of a series of the author's works that grapple with themes of immortality, Septimius Felton was written shortly before Hawthorne himself succumbed to a mysterious illness, a fact that lends a dimension of profound poignancy to the story.

Though he is now regarded as one of the masters of American literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne spent a sizable chunk of his peak writing years living in England. This volume collects a series of essays and sketches that Hawthorne penned during his stay abroad. They offer keen insight into the differences between the two cultures and the ultimately illusory nature of the idea of "home."