The uneasy and spellbinding tales of a great American author Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the earliest admired American novelists and short story writers. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, his origins ever influenced his work. His tales were invariably set in New England, were darkly romantic and were often concerned with the occult and witches and their works in particular. Indeed, one of Hawthorne's ancestors actually sat as a judge during the famous Salem Witch Trials, so the author's inspiration could barely have stronger foundations. Predictably Hawthorne's stories contain puritanical messages on the themes of sin, guilt and fundamental evil which go well with stories that contain uncanny and, sometimes, almost surreal elements. Although Hawthorne was decidedly popular with readers opinions about his work was sharply divided among his peers. Poe was a particularly harsh critic. Nevertheless, more recent analysis has suggested that he remains-possibly-America's greatest novelist, challenged only by Henry James and William Faulkner.

This Leonaur collection of four volumes has gathered together Hawthorne's tales which contain elements of the weird and bizarre. It contains very well known works and those that may be less familiar. In volume one readers will discover the novel, 'The House of the Seven Gables' and the novelette, 'Rappaccini's Daughter, ' together with fifteen short stories including 'The Great Stone Face, ' 'Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, ' 'The Wedding Knell, ' 'Drowne's Wooden Image, ' 'The Snow-Image' and others. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.