Nathaniel Hawthorne was a prominent 19th-century American novelist and short story writer known for his rich tales of history, morality, and religion. Born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne hailed from a family deeply rooted in the region.

Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College from 1821, became a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and graduated in 1825. In 1828, he published his first novel, Fanshawe, but later attempted to suppress it because he felt it did not meet the standards of his subsequent works. Many of his short stories were first published in periodicals and later gathered in the collection Twice-Told Tales in 1837.

In 1838, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody, and the couple married in 1842. During this time, Hawthorne worked at the Boston Custom House and briefly joined the Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community. They initially lived in The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, before moving to Salem, the Berkshires, and eventually The Wayside in Concord. His most famous work, The Scarlet Letter, was published in 1850, leading to a series of successful novels.

Hawthorne's writings often focus on New England and are known for their moral complexity, deep psychological insight, and anti-Puritan themes. His work is typically associated with the Romantic movement, specifically dark romanticism. In 1852, he wrote a biography for his college friend Franklin Pierce's presidential campaign, which Pierce won.

A political appointment as consul took Hawthorne and his family to Europe, but they returned to Concord in 1860. Hawthorne passed away on May 19, 1864.