《红字》是美国小说家霍桑最杰出的代表作，也是整个美国浪漫主义小说中最有声望的权威作品之一，故事发生在十七世纪中期加尔文者派统治下的波士顿，作者从当时的社会现状入手，通过一个感人的爱情故事悲剧来揭露当局对人们精神、心灵和道德的摧残……

书中讲述的是发生在北美殖民时期的恋爱悲剧。女主人公海丝特·白兰嫁给了医生奇灵渥斯，他们之间却没有爱情。在孤独中自兰与牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋并生下女儿珠儿。白兰被当众惩罚，戴上标志“通奸”的红色A字示众。然而白兰坚贞不屈，拒不说出孩子的父亲。最终丁梅斯代尔不堪良心的谴责，公开认罪，死在了白兰的怀里。奇灵渥斯却沦为魔鬼的奴隶，成为真正的罪人。

THE CUSTOM-HOUSE INTRODUCTORY TO“THE SCARLET LETTER”

Chapter 1 The Prison-Door

Chapter 2 The Market-Place

Chapter 3 The Recognition

Chapter 4 The Interview

Chapter 5 Hester at Her Needle

Chapter 6 Pear

Chapter 7 The Governor's Hall

Chapter 8 The Elt-Child and The Minister

Chapter 9 The Leech

Chapter 10 The Leech and His Patient

Chapter 11 The Interior of a Heart

Chapter 12 The Minister's Vigil

Chapter 13 Another View of Hester

Chapter 14 Hester and the Physician

Chapter 15 Hester and Pearl

Chapter 16 A Forest Walk

Chapter 17 The Pastor and His Parishioner

Chapter 18 A Flood of Sunshing

Chapter 19 The Child at the Brook-Side

Chapter 20 The Minister in a Maze

Chapter 21 The New England Holiday

Chapter 22 The Procession

Chapter 23 The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter

Chapter 24 Conclusion