The Scarlet Letter

This production of Hawthorne's classic about sin, guilt, and retribution begins with an introduction called "The Customs House," which tells of the discovery of the pages that contain the title story. (Hawthorne worked in a custom house and sometimes wrote there.) In the novel itself, protagonist Hester Prynne is required to wear a scarlet "A"--for adultery--on the bosom of her dress. Narrator Shelly Frasier fails to bring to life the setting or the characters of either piece. Individual voices have accents that seem affected and do not fit with the characters or the time in which they live. For the introduction in particular, a male narrator would be more appropriate. Overall, Frasier seems bored by the production and is not able to engage the listener. S.S.R. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine


If you last read THE SCARLET LETTER in high school, this production of the classic novel of adultery, repentance, hypocrisy, and the boundaries of Puritan law will remind you why your English teacher assigned it. Hawthorne's ageless story focuses on Hester Prynne, a young wife accused of adultery and forced to wear the scarlet letter "A" on her bosom. Much of this morality tale investigates the interior tensions of characters as complex as any in literature. The novel is given an artful reading by Annie Wauters. Wauters creates a Hester Prynne of enormous heroism. Hester's strength, when surrounded by false piety and righteousness, is humbling. Wauters's smooth, calming voice gives the simpering Dimmesdale and the vengeful Roger Chillingworth more humanity than they deserve. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine