Customer Reviews

Dolliver Romance (Volume 11 ) (The Works Of Nathaniel Hawthorne (12 Volumes)

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I call this esential because it provides a view of Hawthorne that one may not usually see. Fanshawe was his first work, the rest in this collection comprise some of his last. Dolliver, Septimius, and the Ancestral Footstep all involve a scientist (or seeker) character involved in the discovery of a secret "Elixir of Life" that has been past through generations and serves as a link between Europe and the New World. None of these texts, having been written by Hawthorne in the last three years of his life, were ever completed. Nonetheless, they provide a view of the author not often recognized in reading his other works. Key issues in these texts are scientific research, the progression of life to death, and succession after death, either through legacy or inheritance. Unfortunately, the author was never able to polish this dicussion in one distinct title, and thus we are left with four drafts to ponder. (Only three are included in this volume; the fourth, which I would also recommend, is Dr. Grimshawe's Secret.) There is no loss in this, for Hawthorne's difficulty in writing these works is a testament to their complexity, and each provides separate details wich lead to the reader's complete understanding of the author's inetentions. As romances, Septimius Felton, and Dr. Grimshawe's Secret stand apart as complete and entertaining texts, most intriguing for the scientific research ethic that Hawthornes implies. Until these works were published, similar issues could only be found -- less completely developed -- in the author's short stories (such as "The Birth-Mark," "Rappaccini's Daughter," and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"). Enjoy. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition

If you have no patience for reading-don't try this one