Nathaniel Hawthorne remains one of the most widely read and taught of American authors. This Historical Guide collects a number of original essays by Hawthorne scholars that place the author in historical context. Like other volumes in the series, A Historical Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne includes an introduction, a brief biography, a bibliographical essay, and an illustrated chronology of the author"s life and times. Combining cultural criticism with historical scholarship, this volume addresses a wide range of topics relevant to Hawthorne"s work, including his relationship to slavery, children, mesmerism, and the visual arts.