Nathaniel Hawthorne’s notebooks reveal the strange workings of his imagination
In his private notebooks, Hawthorne didn’t have to worry about being called unconventional, depressive or mad. The result is a glimpse of his macabre mind at work.
The notebooks of Nathaniel Hawthorne, penned over three decades, offer a glimpse into the imaginative workings of the author who later became one of America's most renowned writers. These notebooks, later titled "The American Notebooks," contain short entries that are eerie, captivating, and often no more than a single paragraph.
They serve as a repository for Hawthorne's creative musings, allowing him to explore ideas without fear of judgment or stigma. In 2026, an edition of 200 of the most compelling fragments will be published by the Library of America, providing readers with a unique perspective on the mind of the author behind works such as "The Scarlet Letter" and "Young Goodman Brown."
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