The Blithedale Romance: A Quick Read edition

Discover a new way to read classics with Quick Read.
This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each
chapter.
\- Reading time of the complete text: about 7 hours
\- Reading time of the summarized text: 24 minutes

"The Blithedale Romance" is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne published in 1852.
The story takes place in the mid-1800s and revolves around the conflict
between the ideals of a communist community called Blithedale and the private
desires and romantic rivalries of its members. The protagonist, Miles
Coverdale, moves to Blithedale and becomes intrigued by the legend of the
Veiled Lady, a clairvoyant who has recently stopped performing. He forms
relationships with Hollingsworth, Priscilla, and Zenobia, but tensions arise
as their personal ambitions clash. Coverdale falls ill and develops a close
bond with Hollingsworth, but their friendship ends when they disagree on the
future of Blithedale. Coverdale leaves for the city and encounters Priscilla
and Zenobia, leading to shocking revelations about their past. The story
concludes with tragedy and the realization of the impact of Zenobia's death on
the characters. The novel is narrated by Coverdale, whose narrative style is
erratic and dreamlike. It is based on Hawthorne's experiences at Brook Farm,
an experimental commune, and explores themes of utopianism, morality, and the
conflict between fiction and reality. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon
publication, "The Blithedale Romance" is considered a significant work in
Hawthorne's literary career.