The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Corners of cover are bent a tiny bit and a few scuffs and scratches on front and back, but all pages are unmarked and intact. No annotations. Spine isn’t bent or cracked. Perfect for if you are interested in classics or are a teacher. Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and will not reveal her lover’s identity. The scarlet letter A (for adultery) she has to wear on her clothes, along with her public shaming, is her punishment for her sin and her secrecy. She struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.