
audiobook
A wandering stranger arrives in a familiar New England village, his appearance a patchwork of distant lands—an Indian staff, a Spanish hat, an Arabian sun‑kissed cheek. Though his foreign trappings set the scene for a fairy‑like legend, the tale stays rooted in the everyday world, inviting listeners to wonder how myth can slip through the cracks of ordinary life. The moment his hand brushes a young woman’s arm, a flicker of recognition sparks curiosity and hints at a deeper connection.
Ralph Cranfield, the village’s enigmatic youth, has long been convinced that three signs will seal his destiny. He dreams of a maiden bearing a heart‑shaped jewel, a hidden treasure revealed by a pointing hand and the word “EFFODE,” and finally, a great influence over his fellow men. When the stranger’s accidental touch awakens the name Faith Egerton, Ralph senses that the first prophecy may already be stirring, setting the stage for a journey where hope, mystery, and the pull of fate intertwine.
Language
en
Duration
~20 minutes (19K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger and Al Haines.
Release date
2005-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1804–1864
Best known for The Scarlet Letter, this American master of dark, symbolic fiction turned guilt, secrecy, and moral conflict into unforgettable stories. His novels and tales still shape how readers imagine Puritan New England and the shadows of the human conscience.
View all books
by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

by Nathaniel Hawthorne