Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
I want to read the book!
All characters reduced
The Birthmark (Unabridged) - Exploring Human Nature Perfection and Consequences in a Dark Romantic Tale - cover

The Birthmark (Unabridged) - Exploring Human Nature Perfection and Consequences in a Dark Romantic Tale

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publisher: Good Press

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's renowned short story, "The Birthmark," the author delves into the perilous pursuit of perfection through a haunting exploration of obsession, science, and human fragility. Set in the early 19th century, a period marked by rapid advancements in science juxtaposed with the Romantic ideals of nature and individuality, Hawthorne employs a rich, symbolic narrative style that blends realism with a touch of the gothic. The protagonist, Aylmer, is a scientist who becomes fixated on removing a small, birthmark from his wife, Georgiana, seeing it as a fatal flaw that mars her beauty. The story navigates the tension between natural imperfections and the hubris of man, ultimately raising profound ethical questions about the consequences of tampering with nature in the name of idealism. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works often explore themes of guilt, sin, and the complexities of human emotion. He was profoundly influenced by his ancestors' Puritan background and the philosophical currents of transcendentalism and dark romanticism. "The Birthmark" highlights Hawthorne's formidable grasp of the moral implications of scientific ambition, reflecting anxieties prevalent during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. Recommended for readers who appreciate layered narratives and moral quandaries, "The Birthmark" offers an unsettling yet thought-provoking reflection on the human condition. This unabridged version allows readers to fully experience Hawthorne's eloquent prose and nuanced themes, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the interplay between science and ethics.
Available since: 01/06/2024.
Print length: 50 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Goldfinger - A James Bond Novel - cover

    Goldfinger - A James Bond Novel

    Ian Fleming

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    JAMES BOND MUST STOP A GOLD-OBSESSED MILLIONAIRE AND THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY 
Auric Goldfinger is the richest man in England―though his wealth can’t be found in banks. He’s been hoarding vast stockpiles of his namesake metal, and it has attracted the suspicion of Bond’s superiors at MI6. 
Sent to investigate, Bond uncovers an ingenious gold-smuggling scheme, as well as Goldfinger’s most daring caper yet: Operation Grand Slam, a heist so audacious it could bring down the world economy and put the fate of the West in the hands of SMERSH. Only 007 can stop the enigmatic millionaire and his murderous mania for gold.
    Show book
  • After the Theatre - cover

    After the Theatre

    Anton Chekhov

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    After Nadya, a 16 year old girl, returns home from seeing a play, she is happily consumed with its plot of unrequited love. To Nadya, unrequited love is the most interesting type of love, as love is boring if everyone is happy.
Quickly, Nadya's thoughts turn to her two suitors, Gorny and Guzdev. Although they have both declared their love for her, she, more than anything, wants to believe that they do not love her. Trying to emulate the unrequited love from the play, she writes a letter to Gorny, like the heroine in the play, to create tension. But then she wonders if she should instead write to Guzdev, or perhaps both!
    Show book
  • The Cricket on the Hearth The Lost Christmas Classic - Stories For Everyone - cover

    The Cricket on the Hearth The...

    Charles Dickens

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    The Cricket on the Heart is a novella by Charles Dickens, published by Bradbury and Evans, and released 20 December 1845. Dickens began writing the book in October 1845 and finished it by December. Like all of Dickens’s Christmas books, it was published in book form, not as a serial. Dickens described the novel as “quiet and domestic innocent and pretty.” It is subdivided into chapters called “Chirps”, similar to the “Quarters” of The Chimes or the “Staves” of A Christmas Carol. It is the third of Dickens’s five Christmas books, preceded by A Christmas Carol (1843) and The Chimes (1844), and followed by The Battle of Life (1846) and The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain (1848).
    Show book
  • The Awakening - cover

    The Awakening

    Kate Chopin

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    The Awakening caused a stir amongst it's readers when it was first published in 1899.

With its realistic portrayal of female marital infidelity, an anudience accustomed to the pieties of late Victorian romantic fiction were shocked by Chopin's radical portrayal of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage, seeking passionate physical love outside the confines of her domestic situation.
    Show book
  • What I Saw in America (Unabridged) - cover

    What I Saw in America (Unabridged)

    G.K. Chesterton

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Journalist, novelist, poet, artist and art critic, essayist, theologian, propagandist, philosopher, and creator of the wily old Father Brown - G. K. Chesterton is one of the most beguiling authors of the early twentieth century. When asked to perform a lecture tour in 1921, Chesterton was in a slump of depression. He had recently lost his brother to the First World War and his wavering faith in the face of the horrors of the conflict only intensified his malaise. 'What I Saw in America' tells us as much about the author and his particular views as it does about his destination. Indeed, Chesterton's personalised observations - his aversion to imperialism, capitalism, Anglo-Americanism and his commitment to democracy and fraternity - are distinguished by the piercing wit for which he is famed.
    Show book
  • The War of the Worlds - A soothing reading for sleep and relaxation - cover

    The War of the Worlds - A...

    H. G. Wells

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Drift into a dreamlike state with The War of the Worlds, the visionary sci-fi classic by H.G. Wells, brought to life by the calming voice of Andrew Bond and produced by Slumber Studios. 
If a restless mind or lingering stress is keeping you awake, this soothing audiobook is crafted to ease you into a deep, restful sleep, while gently transporting you to another world. 
Close your eyes and let the steady rhythm of Andrew Bond’s narration carry you into the mysterious English countryside, where strange lights in the sky signal the arrival of something unknown… something beyond our world. Follow the journey of an unnamed narrator as he witnesses the astonishing arrival of Martian cylinders and the surreal unfolding of an otherworldly invasion. 
Rather than shock or suspense, this version is designed for a peaceful night's rest. Wells’ poetic language, paired with gentle music and slow, thoughtful narration, becomes a meditative experience—a soft backdrop for your imagination as you prepare to drift off. 
At Slumber Studios, all of our audiobooks are edited, produced and narrated to help you relax and fall asleep. Along with calming music in the background, we also lightly edit the books. We keep the plotlines, protagonists and antagonists, and moments of tension, but we remove anything that may be startling or upsetting, to ensure you always get a good night's rest. 
If you're seeking a tranquil way to end your day, The War of the Worlds offers the perfect escape. Just press play, get comfortable, and let Andrew’s soothing voice guide you gently into a universe of wonder and sleep.
    Show book