PASSAGES FROM HAWTHORNE'S

"Passages from Hawthorne's Note-Books" offers a glimpse into Nathaniel Hawthorne's observations and reflections during the mid-19th century. The entries, spanning from September 1842 to April 1843, capture Hawthorne's interactions with contemporary figures like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, as well as his musings on nature, society, and personal experiences. Hawthorne describes his admiration for Thoreau's deep connection with nature and his own attempts to master rowing on the Concord River. The journal entries reveal Hawthorne's appreciation for the changing seasons, particularly the beauty of autumn and the challenges of a prolonged winter. He reflects on the solitude and introspection that come with his writing life, as well as the joy and contentment found in his domestic life. The entries also touch on Hawthorne's literary endeavors and his interactions with the intellectual community of his time. Through these passages, readers gain insight into Hawthorne's character, his literary influences, and his philosophical contemplations on the natural world and human existence.