Description
Book SynopsisConsidered one of the greatest of American authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) created a memorable body of literature, which included the novels The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables, as well as a wealth of short stories. In Adapting Nathaniel Hawthorne to the Screen: Forging New Worlds, Laurence Raw demonstrates how filmmakers have turned to Hawthorne to comment on the nation''s past, present, and future. Raw shows how some filmmakers have tackled the difficulty of Hawthorne''s material by treating him strictly as a writer whose work was firmly situated in American life of the mid-nineteenth century. Raw also examines how directors have used Hawthorne''s stories to comment on various aspects of twentieth century American life. This device is particularly evident in the many versions of The Scarlet Letter, such as the 1950 television version broadcast two months after Senator Joseph McCarthy''s speech about State Department employees who were card-carrying members of t
Trade ReviewLaurence Raw has delved into the many film manifestations of Hawthorne's writings with a clear headed and cogent view, analyzing both where they have succeeded or have not. The great American author has shown his stories to have a relevance and timelessness that have transcended the printed medium. The different takes on the Scarlet Letter are fascinating to read about, as different mores and viewpoints of the passing decades put their own spin on Hawthorne's most famous novel. Of particular interest is the way Hawthorne's writings have been brought to filmic life; as conventional drama, animation, short film, and even broad farce. Mr. Raw's look into the films based on Hawthorne's writings is a must both for film fans and Hawthorne fans. -- Michael Legge, Director of Loons
