With references to
their real-life friends and contemporaries such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Margaret
Fuller, The House of Hawthorne explores the life and art of Sophia
Peabody, wife of Nathaniel Hawthorne and an accomplished illustrator and
painter. Surprisingly, it was a book
that she wrote which is depicted as initially drawing the couple closer.
Later in life, Hawthorne portrayed her in this way: “She is the most sensible
woman I ever knew in my life, much superior to me in general talent, and of
fine cultivation.”
The language in The House of Hawthorne does
feel a bit stilted at times, but overall adds to the ambiance and feeling of that
long ago era. Much of the phrasing, quoting personal letters and published
works, is beautiful and so descriptive:
- “Company is a burden to those at home in the solitude of their souls.”
- “May I hold my breath until we return and blow some of this tonic at him.”
- “… as if a little piece of my soul is outside of my body, inspiring others. What a great responsibility art is.”
This historical novel by Erika Robuck is one that, despite its 400 page
length, may work well for Junior Theme.
Students will be familiar with Hawthorne from studying his Scarlet
Letter and may be intrigued to see how his wife faces conflicts between
career/passion and family that are similar to those we see today. Did you know, for example, that she
illustrated some of his early stories? Spanning the 1830s to 1860s and crossing
the Atlantic from New England to Europe, The House of Hawthorne
will certainly be a popular book club favorite. Readers will enjoy the light, almost
conversational tone and tongue-in-cheek allusions such as, “’I followed his
gaze to the vista. We were two small
mammals in a vast landscape. How very transcendental of you, my sweet,’ I tease.”
