Title: The American Notebooks by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Description: The American Notebooks follows chronological order, tracing Hawthorne's development over a period of eighteen years. The individual entries, however, are quite random in their makeup and contain adages, animal folklore, and biblical references that captivated Hawthorne. Observations of people whom he saw in the streets of nineteenth century Salem, Boston, and North Adams, Massachusetts, are mixed with flights of fancy that occurred to Hawthorne as he labored at his writing. Quotations from early eighteenth century newspapers and church books chronicle Hawthorne's lifelong interest in New England history. In this sense, the notebooks provide not only a glimpse of Hawthorne's close observation as a writer but also a picture of New England in the early-to-mid-nineteenth century. - enotes.com
Subjects: Description and travel, Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.), Travel, Social life and customs, Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)., Diaries, Intellectual life, American Authors, Homes and haunts, Brook Farm
Places: New York (State), Massachusetts, New England
People: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
Time periods: 19th century