50 pages • 1 hour read
The Blithedale Romance
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Book Brief
204
Novel • Fiction
Massachusetts • 1840s
1851
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Blithedale Romance follows poet Miles Coverdale as he joins the Blithedale Community, an experimental utopian commune. Coverdale's interactions with fellow members Zenobia, Hollingsworth, and Priscilla reveal hidden pasts and complex relationships, leading to disillusionment and tragedy. The novel explores themes of idealism, human nature, and the failure of utopian dreams. The novel refers to death by suicide.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Romantic
Reviews & Readership
6,150 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Blithedale Romance presents a rich exploration of utopian community life, interwoven with complex character studies and dark, Gothic undertones. Critics praise its profound themes and psychological depth, though some find its pacing sluggish and characters underdeveloped. Overall, it remains a compelling, if uneven, reflection on idealism and human nature.
Who Should Read The Blithedale Romance?
Readers who appreciate The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne typically enjoy 19th-century American literature, intricate psychological exploration, and themes of utopian societies. Fans of Moby-Dick by Herman Melville or Walden by Henry David Thoreau may find it particularly engaging for its blend of social critique and transcendentalist thought.
6,150 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
204
Novel • Fiction
Massachusetts • 1840s
1851
Adult
18+ years
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