011 - XI An Old Woman's Tale

Dive into this posthumous collection of captivating stories, sketches, and essays by the renowned New England author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dolliver Romance, the titular piece, is an intriguing unfinished manuscript that was lovingly prepared for publication after Hawthornes passing. It tells the enchanting tale of an elderly man who, under the care of a small child, consumes a magical tincture that revitalizes his youth. The collection also includes fantastical narratives like The Ancient Ring, a legend of a cursed ring, and Graves a Goblins, a poignant and humorous story told from a ghosts perspective. Hawthornes non-fiction shines through in essays such as Sketches from Memory and My Trip to Niagara, where he masterfully evokes a vivid sense of place and time. Additionally, readers will encounter Hawthornes somber and allegorical style in Fragments from the Journal of a Solitary Man and The Old Womans Tale, each woven with a delicate touch. For devoted fans of Hawthorne, this collection offers a final glimpse into the rich tapestry of a literary master’s imagination. (Summary by Ben Tucker)