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
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Mixed feelings
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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
Zenobia
Zenobia
A strong and vibrant member of the Blithedale commune and an advocate for women’s rights, known for her charismatic and engaging personality.
Priscilla
Priscilla
Zenobia's younger half-sister and a delicate figure who arrives at Blithedale hoping for protection from mysterious past influences, including an association with the Veiled Lady.
Hollingsworth
Hollingsworth
A determined blacksmith who joins the Blithedale community to promote his plan of building a rehabilitation center, known for his charisma and single-minded focus.
Moodie / Fauntleroy
Moodie / Fauntleroy
The father of Zenobia and Priscilla, who was once wealthy but now lives in obscurity and poverty under an assumed name after a fall from grace.
204
Novel • Fiction
Massachusetts • 1840s
1851
Adult
18+ years
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