The Cambridge Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne    by Leland S. Person Order:  USA  Can Cambridge University Press, 2007 (2007) Softcover      Reviewed by Tim Davis Here, in a wonderfully fresh and affordable edition, is a comprehensive little introduction to the life and work of Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of America's best and most important nineteenth century authors. Leland S. Person (Professor of English at the University of Cincinnati) gives readers an easy-to-read brief biography of Hawthorne as well illuminating introductions to (and concise assessments of) Hawthorne's short fiction and novels. Moreover, in two of the book's finer sections, Person writes first about Hawthorne's important cultural and historical contexts (Puritanism; Transcendentalism; Feminism; Race, Slavery, and Abolition; and Nineteenth Century Manhood) and then briefly about the critical reactions (over the years) to Hawthorne's body of work. As a bonus, Person includes important endnotes and a guide to further reading. As a university instructor of literature, I know of no better introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne; an essential starting point for any student new to Hawthorne studies, The Cambridge Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne will definitely be included on my recommended collateral reading lists for students in future semesters. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews