The Scarlet Letter

by John Escott (Retold by), Nathaniel Hawthorne

A level 4 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. This version includes an audio book: listen to the story as you read.

Written for Learners of English by John Escott.

Scarlet is the colour of sin, and the letter ‘A’ stands for ‘Adultery’. In the 1600s, in Boston, Massachusetts, love was allowed only between a husband and a wife. A child born outside marriage was a child of sin.

Hester Prynne must wear the scarlet letter on her dress for the rest of her life. How can she ever escape from this public shame? What will happen to her child, growing up in the shadow of the scarlet letter? The future holds no joy for Hester Prynne.

And what will happen to her sinful lover – the father of her child?

Genres: Classics, School

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2014

About the author

John Escott started by writing children's books and comic scripts, but now writes and adapts books for students of all ages. He especially enjoys writing crime and mystery thrillers, and is a member of the British Crime Writers Association.

With Oxford University Press John has published London for the Oxford Bookworms Factfile series; Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery, Star Reporter, Girl on a Motorbike, The Fly and Other Horror Stories, and The Scarlet Letter for the Oxford Bookworms Library series; The Magician, Time for a Robbery, Star for a day, Tomorrow's Girl, and The Man with Three NAMEs for the Hotshot Puzzles series; and A Pretty Face for the Dominoes series.

Reviews

[Abrar Alarjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

هذا القصة إن دلت دلت على تشدد المسيحين تجاه زواج القس
فأدى ذلك إلى حصول الزنا وماهذه القصة الحزينة إلا واحدة من مئاات القصص

[AShwaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this quote: "Poor Mr Dimmesdale, sick at heart, too afraid to call any man his friend, could not recognize an enemy either"

[Mikel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues me ha gustado más de lo que me esperaba. El amor prohibido, el engaño oculto del médico al cura, la confesión... Además, aun teniendo un vocabulario bastante simplificado, ha conseguido mantener bastante belleza. Sin duda, con ganas de leer la versión original 👍

[Faraz Ghalbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

یک ) «حرف سرخ» رمانی است از ناتانیل هاوثورن که در سال 1850 میلادی منتشر شده است. ترجمه ای از این رمان
با عنوان «داغ ننگ» به قلم سیمین دانشور موجود است

دو) «حرف» در عنوان رمان به
A
در زبان انگلیسی اشاره دارد و این حرف در اینجا اشاره دارد به واژه ی
ADULTERY
که به معنای زنا است. نیز سرخی رنگ گناه است. پس می توان عنوان رمان را اینگونه تعبیر کرد: گناه برآمده از زنا

سه) داستان درباره ی زنای میان زنی با نام هستر پراین و کشیشی با نام آرتور دیمزدیل است که در بوستن به شدت مذهبی (افراد پیوریتن هستند)سال های 1642 الی 1649 اتفاق می افتد. قصه پر است از رنگ‌مایه‌هایی از گناه، عذاب وجدان، داوری‌های عمومی بعضاً یک سویه‌ی یک محیط به شدت مذهبی و غیره

چهار) شاید اگر انگلیسی‌م قوی تر بود و می‌توانستم اصل کتاب ، و نه متنی ساده تر شده، را بخوانم بیشتر درگیر می‌شدم. با این حال همین مایه‌های گناه و مذهب و عقوبت و غیره از جمله تم‌هایی است که همواره من را جذب کرده و بنابراین همین متن ساده شده را هم با لذت خواندم

[Moeko Yamaguchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

-oxford university press, level 4
-time: 150 minutes
-7 words summary: Scarlet Letter, sin, A, hide, pastor, escape
-Discussion Questions:
1. If you are put the scarlet letter,on your bosom, can you stand the behavior from others like her?
No, I cannot. I cannot live wearing the scarlet letter.
2. Can you believe that it is a sin to have a child between man and woman(outside marriage)
-Yes and No. I cannot imagine that situation.

This story was too difficult to read, so I cannot undestand all the story. I want to understand more deeply.

[Karla Del angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book we can see how the sin of a young woman, Hester Prynne, was announced to everyone with the "scarlet letter" she always had to wear this letter A in a red color that stands for adultery. She had have a baby with another man different than her husband and so this child was a "child of sin".

Will we know who the father of this creature is? What happened to her husband and to the child of sin?
Will she wear the scarlet letter for ever?

After reading it you will know all the answers to this questions and you will want more of this amazing story.

[Jaesun Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is famous in the world but I have never expected it at all. The introduction of book told me a small hint "A" and I was very curious the meaning of it, so I kept the reading to find what "A" exactly means and why it is important to story. It is interesting mental chang of main characters.

[Azy Saeedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

thats a good book!

[saeedeh · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmm...

[Natalia Dias · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sencillamente, no me ha gustado que sí, muy bonito que Hester ame Arthur, que Arthur se muera por ser pecador que me la pela que la Elisa está súper metida en el libro que es de hace muchísimos años su plan de los 1000 si me equivoco de los 1600que Roger es un tremendo hijo de puta cabrón que sale entonces era tremendamente horrible porque después fue la casa de brujas donde murió la hermana de la del gobernador vaya putísima mierda sinceramente no sé, creo que bro no me ha gustado pero era para Clase así que bueno libra más

[Marsha Rafalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 rounded to 4.0)

This book was a re-read for the Closer Reads on line discussion.

Originally written in 1850 and sometimes referred to as Hawthorne’s master work. The story features Hester Prynne as a young wife in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 19th Century. She is found guilty of adultery and sentenced to wear a prominent letter “A” on her chest as evidence of her sin. She has a daughter that is something of a wild child. Hester never reveals the name of her lover. Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sins, and guilt.

This book is a classic and taught in schools as one of the great examples of 19th Century writing. Hawthorne had issues with some of the history of his family related to the Puritanism and witch trials that he explored through his work. I found this a good book but not a great one. I would recommend this as a classic work to be included in a survey of great books but I had some problems with the characterizations, and the heavy handed morality. Recommend to readers of classic historical literature.

[Janette Lart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely to read!

I have appreciated the polite style and editing.
This is an educational book about the popular and classical novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The language level is suitable for high school students.
The plot is interesting, unique and immerses readers in a fascinating story with an unusual ending.
The theme can be considered modern in some concerns such as gender difference for social judgement.

[isaaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for school. I didn’t expect to be interesting but it was. I don’t think I would’ve read this book if it wasn’t for school but it turned out to be worthwhile. Liked the story but didn’t really understand the concept of the different characters, maybe it was for the time it is told in. I wished the end was a bit different but still appreciated.

[Amaia Cardaño · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este libro ya lo leí hace tiempo, pero no me acordaba bien de la historia. Me lo he tenido que volver a leer porque en clase teníamos examen y la verdad es que me ha decepcionado bastante. Habiendo película del libro y que en muchos libros o películas hagan mención del libro crea una expectativas muy altas. Que al final no creo que las cumpla, por lo menos en mi caso.
La historia me ha parecido muy vista y bastante predecible. Podría haber sido una gran lectura, pero creo que no están bien desarrollados los temas.
No lo volvería a leer, me ha decepcionado bastante.

[Muhnnad Balbaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting book, And I advise who reads level 4 to read it

[connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7/5

[elena yruela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Era una lectura obligatoria

[frani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wish my first ever read of this book was the original version and not this one that I had to summarize for ESL high school seniors :(

[Hm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice I don’t got it the end of story!!!!

[Maram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Nini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring book. Predictable plot. Annoying characters.

[Mtanos Awwad · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! Full of symbols and meanings.

[Ponytaorponyboy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have so many questions...

[Alhanouf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a refreshing seeing an advanced book with moderate ideas

[Rebeca _ El Castillo de Manderley]

Lectura conjunta para el club de lectura Biblioteca Azorín.

[Dsdmona · Rating 3 out of 5]

El relato comienza con el juicio público en una plaza a Hester Prynne por adulterio, al tener una hija mientras su marido no había llegado a América. Allí esta él (Roger Chillingworth), recién llegado tras dos años de ausencia. Ella había llegado antes mientras él atendía a unos asuntos en Ámsterdam (donde anteriormente vivían).

Hester es condenada a llevar la marca de adúltera, pero a lo largo de la historia muestra su fortaleza en su intento de rehacer su vida. Durante toda la historia, su pareja en el delito, el reverendo Dimmensdale, no revela su pecado y así sigue siendo un miembro respetado de la comunidad. Pero su culpa le produce gran remordimiento a través de todo el relato.

[Rú · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le voy a dar cuatro estrellas porque es el primer libro BIEN ADAPTADO que leo en inglés para el instituto. La historia me parece aburrida, el ritmo meh, pero los personajes creo que no están mal caracterizados, oye. Por eso las cuatro estrellas, por ser el primero cuya lectura que no me ha parecido una pesadilla de los infiernos. ¡Gracias, John Escott!

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

“We dream in our waking moments, and walk in our sleep.”

Un poco aburrido 🥱