Practicing Romance

More about the book

Focusing on Nathaniel Hawthorne's role as a cultural analyst, this book reinterprets his work as a means to engage and reshape the community he depicted. It argues that Hawthorne's romance narratives serve not just as an American genre but as a critical lens through which readers can examine their societal connections. By analyzing his narrative strategies and the diverse voices within his stories, the book positions Hawthorne as a transformative figure in literature, challenging the constraints of his time and enhancing readers' understanding of their cultural environment.