Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was an American novelist and short story writer, considered one of the great representatives of nineteenth-century American literature. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, his works are deeply marked by the influence of Puritanism and the colonial history of New England, as well as by themes such as guilt, sin, and morality. Among his most renowned works is The Scarlet Letter (1850). His style combines dark symbolism with a keen psychological exploration of his characters.