The House of Hawthorne Book Review

Synopsis:
Beset by crippling headaches from a young age and endowed with a talent for drawing, Sophia is discouraged by her well-known New England family from pursuing a woman’s traditional roles. But from their first meeting, Nathaniel and Sophia begin an intense romantic relationship that despite many setbacks leads to their marriage. Together, they will cross continents, raise children, and experience all the beauty and tragedy of an exceptional partnership. Sophia’s vivid journals and her masterful paintings kindle a fire in Nathaniel, inspiring his writing. But their children’s needs and the death of loved ones steal Sophia’s energy and time for her art, fueling in her a perennial tug-of-war between fulfilling her domestic duties and pursuing her own desires.

Spanning the years from the 1830s to the Civil War, and moving from Massachusetts to England, Portugal, and Italy, The House of Hawthorneexplores the tension within a famous marriage of two soulful, strong-willed people, each devoted to the other but also driven by a powerful need to explore the far reaches of their creative impulses. It is the story of a forgotten woman in history, who inspired one of the greatest writers of American literature.…

Purchase: Amazon

My Review:

I received a free copy of this novel from Penguin Random House in exchange for my honest review.


The House of Hawthorne is a fictional,  yet fascinating, look on the life and romance of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Sophie Peabody.  From the day they met, Sophie and Nathaniel were kindred spirits.  Their love had no bounds.  Even when their daughter Una was sick for months with Roman fever, the family closeness kept them going.  This was a fantastic glimpse into the life of the Hawthornes, as well as several authors from that era. One that I thoroughly enjoyed.