The House of Hawthorne took me on a journey back in time into the heart of a marriage between the elusive author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his devoted wife Sophia Peabody. I truly felt that the author had a unique insight into these two artistic characters and the book read more like a biography than a work of fiction. While I was familiar with Nathaniel Hawthorne's literary works, I was not familiar with his personal story nor that of his wife. The House of Hawthorne is a testament to the role Sophia Peabody Hawthorne played in the making of one of the greatest American authors. We see how Sophia used her artistic talents to support her family, when needed, but also gave up her artistic endeavors when her role as a mother and a wife was more important. The book also shines a light on the struggle faced by the Hawthornes over the ethics of slavery and the hope to avoid war. It further provides glimpses into the artistic circle of that time with appearances by Thoreau, Emerson and Hemingway, among others. Fans of historical fiction should add The House of Hawthorne to their must read list! I received this book from Penguin First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.
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