Major American Authors:
* Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849): Known for his dark and macabre tales and poems.
* Herman Melville (1819-1891): Famous for his epic novel *Moby Dick*.
* Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): A naturalist and transcendentalist writer, known for *Walden*.
* Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888): Author of the beloved novel *Little Women*.
* Frederick Douglass (1818-1895): A prominent abolitionist and writer.
* Emily Dickinson (1830-1886): A reclusive poet known for her unique style and unconventional themes.
* Walt Whitman (1819-1892): A groundbreaking poet known for his free verse and celebration of American democracy.
Other Notable Writers:
* William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878): A poet and journalist.
* Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882): A popular poet known for his narrative poems.
* John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892): A poet and abolitionist.
* James Russell Lowell (1819-1891): A poet, essayist, and diplomat.
* Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894): A physician, poet, and essayist.
* Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896): Author of the anti-slavery novel *Uncle Tom's Cabin*.
It's important to note that some of these authors, like Emily Dickinson and Louisa May Alcott, gained recognition later in life, even though they were writing during Hawthorne's time.
Hawthorne's writing influenced many of his contemporaries and continues to be studied and admired today. He was a key figure in the American Romantic period, and his work explored themes of sin, guilt, and the human condition.