Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, where his ancestor John Hathorne oversaw the Salem Witch Trials - the "w" added to Hawthorne's name was to disassociate himself from Hathorne. He began his career writing anonymously or under pseudonyms, and began using his own name after collecting and publishing "Twice-Told Tales." His various writings denouncing the questionable morality of the time are believed to have stemmed from his own Puritan background.

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Available books:

• House of the Seven Gables

• Mosses From An Old Manse