Hawthorne and His Circle

In Short

This memoir traces the personal and professional life of Nathaniel Hawthorne through the eyes of his son, Julian Hawthorne. Beginning with early family memories in Salem and Lenox, the narrative follows the writer’s growing literary reputation, his purchase of "The Wayside" in Concord, and his appointment to the Liverpool consulate. The family’s subsequent journeys through England, France, and Italy bring them into contact with prominent writers, eccentric figures, and overseas artist communities. Lasting for its vivid domestic detail and first-hand portraits, the book illuminates both the creator of classic American fiction and the quiet warmth of his inner circle.

The Story

The narrative opens with memories of Salem and the domestic origins of Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing career. Behind the quiet routine of the house on Mall Street lies the intense labor that produces The Scarlet Letter. The author's children play around the home, observing their father's modest study on the third floor and his distinctive mahogany writing desk. Following this early period, the family moves to a small red house in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here, surrounded by rural landscapes, the household enjoys visits from literary contemporaries like Herman Melville and G. P. R. James, while Hawthorne works through eighteen months of creative output.

Seeking a permanent residence, the family returns east to purchase "The Wayside" in Concord, an estate modified by Bronson Alcott. The house sits near a quiet highway and places the family in close proximity to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Ellery Channing. However, after Hawthorne publishes a campaign biography for his friend Franklin Pierce, Pierce wins the presidency and appoints him as the United States Consul at Liverpool.

In 1853, the family sails for England. Hawthorne assumes his consular duties, balancing official responsibilities and budget reductions imposed by Congress with social invitations from English society. The family establishes relationships with notable figures such as Richard Monckton Milnes, while also becoming familiar with local landladies, sea captains, and quirky governesses in Southport and Leamington. Julian recalls the unique atmosphere of Mrs. Blodgett’s Liverpool boarding house, a refuge populated largely by American merchant captains.

By 1858, the family embarks on a continental tour through France and Italy. Their journey along the Rhône leads to an extended residence in Rome and Florence. In Italy, Hawthorne draws inspiration from classic sculpture, notably the Faun of Praxiteles in the Capitol, which inspires his next major novel. In Florence, they visit the eccentric collector Mr. Kirkup and his young daughter in a former Templar palace, an encounter that later finds its way into Hawthorne's unfinished manuscripts.

The Italian sojourn takes a somber turn when Hawthorne's daughter, Una, contracts Roman fever. Her prolonged illness severely affects her father's health and emotional state. Although she recovers enough for the family to participate in the carnival, her permanent physical impairment leaves a lasting shadow on her father's spirits. Returning to England, Hawthorne completes The Marble Faun (published in Britain as Transformation).

In June 1860, the family boards a steamer in Liverpool to return to the United States. Hawthorne stands at the ship’s rail, gazing back at the English shore he will never visit again. Back in Concord, amidst the rising tensions of the American Civil War and his own declining health, Hawthorne spends his final years writing until his death, leaving behind a legacy preserved in his son's affectionate recollection.

How It Unfolds

Salem and the early desk The narrative begins with childhood recollections of Salem, where Nathaniel Hawthorne labors over his writing in a third-floor study. His distinct mahogany writing desk, with its hidden compartments and ink-stained velvet, becomes a central fixture of the family's early domestic life.

Life at the red house The family relocates to Lenox, where rural freedom and visits from fellow authors enrich their daily routine. Sudden storms bring uninvited literary guests, while the father offers gentle counsel to the various admirers seeking him out.

Settling in Concord Hawthorne purchases "The Wayside" in Concord, a property featuring rustic additions by Bronson Alcott. Surrounded by neighbors like Emerson and Thoreau, the family briefly enjoys a tranquil life before political appointments alter their path.

Crossing to Liverpool Upon accepting the American consulate at Liverpool, Hawthorne leads his family across the Atlantic. Managing official duties and ship captains, he also navigates English literary society and forms lasting friendships with figures like Richard Monckton Milnes.

Travels on the Continent Leaving England behind, the family travels through France to Italy, taking in ancient ruins and historic sites. In Florence, a visit to an elderly antiquarian's atmospheric apartment provides imaginative material for future stories.

Shadows in Rome Inspiration in Rome turns to anxiety when Hawthorne's daughter falls gravely ill with Roman fever. The emotional toll of her illness permanently alters Hawthorne's health and casts a reflective sadness over his final literary works.

The journey home After seven years abroad, the family boards a steamer in Liverpool to return to America. Hawthorne looks back at the receding harbor, marking the end of an era before his final, quiet years in Concord.

The People

• Nathaniel Hawthorne: The central figure of the memoir, an intensely private author who balances deep literary focus with quiet devotion to his family. He seeks solitude and artistic fulfillment, yet handles consular duties and inquisitive visitors with patience and humanity. The illness of his daughter and the strain of his work leave him physically diminished in his later years.
• Julian Hawthorne: The narrator and son, who observes his father's career with warmth and curiosity. He wants to understand his father's creative world while enjoying the adventures of childhood, from building play boats to exploring historical European sites.
• Sophia Hawthorne: Nathaniel's wife and Julian's mother, who manages the household during their frequent moves and domestic changes. She maintains the family's social ties both in America and across Europe.
• Una Hawthorne: Nathaniel's daughter, whose critical battle with Roman fever during their Italian residence profoundly impacts the family. Her long-term impairment casts a lingering shadow over her father's final years.
• Bronson Alcott: A neighbor and reformer in Concord whose unique architectural talent reshapes "The Wayside" with gables, bow-windows, and rustic summer-houses.
• Richard Monckton Milnes: An English politician and minor poet who forms a warm acquaintance with Hawthorne. Urbane, cultured, and romantic, he hosts notable breakfasts for the London literary world.
• Mr. Kirkup: An elderly, white-bearded antiquarian living in a cobwebbed Florentine palace with his precocious young daughter, serving as a real-life prototype for Hawthorne's late fiction.

In Its Own Voice

"The bottle-sockets and pen-tray did not reach down to the level of the long drawer by nearly an inch."

Julian describes the intricate construction of his father’s old mahogany writing desk, whose secret drawers fascinated him throughout childhood.

"I would not have a drunken man politer than I, he once answered me, when I asked him why he had returned the salutation of a toper."

The author recalls his father’s unfailing courtesy toward everyone he encountered, regardless of their station in life.

"A sensitive eye can trace the effects of the death-blow all through The Marble Faun, and still more in Septimius and Grimshawe, published after his death."

Reflecting on his sister’s severe illness in Rome, Julian notes how the resulting strain permanently altered his father's spirit and subsequent writing.

What It's Really About

At its core, this non-fiction memoir examines the relationship between a literary genius and the private world he inhabited. Rather than analyzing Nathaniel Hawthorne purely as a canonical figure, the text explores how environment, family ties, and daily routines fed into his imaginative mind. It investigates how location—whether a modest Massachusetts cottage, a bustling English port city, or an ancient Roman villa—furnishes the textures and backgrounds for enduring romance novels. Furthermore, the memoir touches on the inevitable passage of time and the lingering impact of personal tragedy, showing how a writer's public successes are intertwined with private vulnerabilities and family hardships.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to classic nineteenth-century American literature and biography will find this book an engaging, affectionate portrait. Instead of presenting a dry critical analysis, Julian Hawthorne offers a conversational narrative filled with specific domestic scenes, from childhood games in Massachusetts to detailed accounts of European travel. The text feels personal and immediate, capturing the everyday reality behind famous literary masterpieces.

While readers should be prepared for mid-nineteenth-century travel conventions, relaxed pacing, and occasional period attitudes regarding social status and nationality, these elements provide authentic historical context. The charm of the book lies in its unhurried observations—the specific look of an old desk, the chaotic arrival of uninvited guests during a thunderstorm, or the quiet reflection of an author leaning against a ship's rail as Europe recedes. It offers a warm, humanizing look at one of America’s most revered authors through the eyes of someone who knew him best.