The Blithedale Romance: A Quick Read edition

Discover a new way to read classics with Quick Read.
This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each chapter.
- Reading time of the complete text: about 7 hours
- Reading time of the summarized text: 24 minutes

"The Blithedale Romance" is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne published in 1852. The story takes place in the mid-1800s and revolves around the conflict between the ideals of a communist community called Blithedale and the private desires and romantic rivalries of its members. The protagonist, Miles Coverdale, moves to Blithedale and becomes intrigued by the legend of the Veiled Lady, a clairvoyant who has recently stopped performing. He forms relationships with Hollingsworth, Priscilla, and Zenobia, but tensions arise as their personal ambitions clash. Coverdale falls ill and develops a close bond with Hollingsworth, but their friendship ends when they disagree on the future of Blithedale. Coverdale leaves for the city and encounters Priscilla and Zenobia, leading to shocking revelations about their past. The story concludes with tragedy and the realization of the impact of Zenobia's death on the characters. The novel is narrated by Coverdale, whose narrative style is erratic and dreamlike. It is based on Hawthorne's experiences at Brook Farm, an experimental commune, and explores themes of utopianism, morality, and the conflict between fiction and reality. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon publication, "The Blithedale Romance" is considered a significant work in Hawthorne's literary career.