The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, this novel tells the story of a woman who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. She is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress as a sign of her adultery while her lover, a revered local minister, remains unnamed and unpunished. Throughout the book, themes of sin, legalism, and guilt are explored.
The 57th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 2977
Since this book was first published in 1850, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 2977.0.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
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