First published in 1852, “The Blithedale Romance” is the third of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s romantic novels. Set in the utopian communal farm called Blithedale in the 1840’s, the novel tells the story of four inhabitants of the commune: Hollingsworth, a misogynist philanthropist obsessed with turning Blithedale into a colony for the reformation of criminals; Zenobia, a passionate feminist; Priscilla, a mysterious lady with a hidden agenda who turns out to be Zenobia’s half-sister; and Miles Coverdale, the protagonist and narrator of the story. The story concerns the relationships and friendships between the four at the commune, which starts out intensely during the spring and summer but as autumn approaches begins to disintegrate towards a tragic end. The characters are united at the beginning by their optimism and belief in a better, more equal and benevolent community. However, their lies, betrayals, jealousies and desires eventually break them apart and cast doubt on the success of the experimental Blithedale community. In the end, their human pettiness and flaws are their undoing. A classic of American literature, “The Blithedale Romance” is a compelling and nuanced narrative that Henry James called “the lightest, the brightest, the liveliest” of Hawthorne’s dramatic novels. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
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