The Christmas Banquet - Illustrated

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Overview

The Christmas Banquet is not a happy or joyful occasion; it is not intended to be. Indeed, it's purpose is the extremist opposite as can be imagined. The last will and testament of an old, rich gentleman decreed that the interest from his investment fund was to be used for preparing a Christmas banquet for 10 of the most miserable persons that could be found. A sad, miserable person himself, the purpose of the banquet was to demonstrate that human discontent should not be forgotten for even one of the joyful days of the year. Of course, the diners found the fine food and wine to be miserable, uneatable. One must ask, "what is the purpose of such a banquet?"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782393205231
Publisher:	Wise Owl Books
Publication date:	11/10/2022
Pages:	30
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne; born Nathaniel Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist, Dark Romantic, and short story writer.

He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, the only judge involved in the Salem witch trials who never repented of his actions. Nathaniel later added a "w" to make his name "Hawthorne" in order to hide this relation. He entered Bowdoin College in 1821, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and graduated in 1825. Hawthorne published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828; he later tried to suppress it, feeling it was not equal to the standard of his later work. He published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The next year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at the Boston Custom House and joined Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment as consul took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to Concord in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, and was survived by his wife and their three children.

Date of Birth:

July 4, 1804

Date of Death:

May 19, 1864

Place of Birth:

Salem, Massachusetts

Place of Death:

Plymouth, New Hampshire

Education:

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 1824