Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804. He came from a Puritan family and was raised in a strict religious environment. Hawthorne's father died when he was only four years old, and his mother remarried when he was eight years old. Hawthorne never had a close relationship with his stepfather, and he often felt like an outsider in his own family.
Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he graduated in 1825. After college, he returned to Salem and began writing. He published his first novel, Fanshawe, in 1828. However, the novel was not well received, and Hawthorne did not publish another novel for twelve years.
In 1842, Hawthorne published The Scarlet Letter. This novel was a critical and commercial success, and it is now considered to be one of the greatest works of American literature. Hawthorne followed up The Scarlet Letter with a number of other successful novels, including The House of the Seven Gables (1851) and The Blithedale Romance (1852).
Hawthorne's work is often interpreted as an exploration of the dark side of human nature. He was fascinated by the themes of sin, guilt, and redemption. His work also often reflects his own personal experiences, such as his childhood in Salem and his relationship with his family.
Hawthorne died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1864. He was 60 years old. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in American literature, and his work continues to be read and studied around the world.
One legend about Hawthorne is that he was cursed by a witch. According to the story, Hawthorne's great-great-grandfather, John Hathorne, was a judge during the Salem witch trials. He sentenced dozens of innocent people to death, and it is said that the witches put a curse on him and his descendants. Hawthorne was said to be haunted by the ghosts of the witches he had wronged.