Love Letters of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Volume 1 (of 2)

In Short

This volume collects the romantic, deeply earnest correspondence sent by Nathaniel Hawthorne to his fiancée, Sophia Peabody, between 1839 and 1841. The letters record their evolving relationship during their engagement, tracking Hawthorne’s daily routines working as a measurer in the Boston Custom House and his eventual departure for Brook Farm. Marked by devotion, gentle humor, and romantic idealism, the letters reveal his longing for companionship, his spiritual views on love, and his efforts to balance mundane labor with a creative life. The collection survives as a rare, authentic portrait of nineteenth-century American literary romance.

The Story

The arc of the volume traces the three-year courtship between Nathaniel Hawthorne and Sophia Peabody, beginning in the spring of 1839 and continuing through early 1841. At the opening, Hawthorne is working as a government official at the Boston Custom House, spending long, physically taxing days measuring cargoes of salt and coal aboard ships on the wharves. Exhausted and covered in the grime of his trade, he returns to his quarters each evening to write to Sophia, whom he addresses by endearing names such as his "Dove" and "little Wild-Flower."

In these early letters, Hawthorne reflects on the harsh weather, political squabbles, and the isolation of his room, contrasting his dull daily labor with the vibrant spiritual reality he feels when communicating with Sophia. The two share quiet walks in Salem and Boston, which become sacred memories that sustain Hawthorne through periods of separation. As the months progress, their bond deepens into a total spiritual union; Hawthorne comes to view their love not merely as a worldly connection, but as an eternal partnership that transforms his entire perspective on life.

Midway through the correspondence, the shadow of grief falls over the relationship when Sophia’s brother George dies. Hawthorne writes urgently to console her, offering his love as an armor to protect her from sorrow. Throughout this painful period and subsequent illnesses, Hawthorne acts as a steady anchor, continually worrying over Sophia’s delicate health, her headaches, and her frail eyes, while urging her not to overexert herself.

As time passes, Hawthorne faces increasing financial and creative pressures. Eager to build a stable life and establish a home where they can live together, he contemplates leaving his Custom House post. He writes of purchasing books to fill a shared bookcase and discusses plans to join George Ripley's utopian community at Brook Farm. By early 1841, as he prepares to embark on this new agricultural venture, Hawthorne’s letters reflect a mixture of anxiety and hope. He envisions driving the plow in the "far wilderness" while relying on Sophia's steadfast faith to carry them into their shared future.

How It Unfolds

The routine of the wharf Hawthorne writes to Sophia after exhausting days at the Boston Custom House, describing his physical labor measuring coal and salt aboard ships. He finds solace from his grime and weariness in her frequent letters, which he calls the sunshine of his life.

Spiritual communion and dreams Writing by firelight during an east wind storm, Hawthorne invites Sophia’s spirit to join him in solitude. He shares vivid dreams of sleeping for a year in the open air, searching for deeper meaning while reflecting on the transcendent nature of their bond.

Consolation in times of grief When Sophia suffers the loss of her brother, Hawthorne sends urgent notes of comfort. He begs her to let his love shield her from pain, emphasizing that their shared grief binds their hearts even more tightly together than joy alone could.

Domestic visions and future plans Hawthorne imagines their future life together, discussing the purchase of a two-hundred-volume library and managing social visits. He playfully navigates Sophia’s gentle rebellions and worries over her delicate health, headaches, and eye fatigue.

Departure for the farm As his time at the Custom House closes, Hawthorne prepares to move to the utopian venture at Brook Farm. He expresses apprehension about manual farm labor, relying on Sophia's optimism to sustain him as he steps into an uncertain future.

The People

• Nathaniel Hawthorne: An American author working as a Custom House measurer in Boston. He longs for solitude and creative fulfillment while performing monotonous physical labor. He wants to establish a secure home and complete spiritual union with his fiancée, though financial constraints and self-doubt stand in his way. Over time, he transforms from an isolated, weary observer into a deeply committed partner who draws his strength from love.
• Sophia Peabody: Hawthorne’s fiancée, referred to affectionately as his "Dove" and "little Wild-Flower." She suffers from frail health, frequent headaches, and eye ailments, yet remains a source of vibrant optimism and emotional warmth. She seeks a deep, spiritual marriage while managing family grief and physical illness, ultimately serving as Hawthorne's artistic muse and emotional anchor.

In Its Own Voice

"Six or seven hours of cheerful solitude! But I will not be alone. I invite your spirit to be with me--at any hour and as many hours as you please--but especially at the twilight hour, before I light my lamp."

Hawthorne writes to Sophia from his room during a winter storm, finding peace in the thought of her presence.

"Our happiness consists in our sense of the union of our hearts--and has not that union been far more deeply felt within us now, than if all our ties were those of joy and gladness?"

In the wake of family sorrow, Hawthorne reflects on how shared adversity strengthens their love.

"Thou art my reality; and nothing else is real for me, unless thou give it that golden quality by thy touch."

Writing from Salem, Hawthorne expresses how completely his connection to Sophia defines his perception of the world.

What It's Really About

Beneath the affectionate expressions, the volume explores the tension between the ideal life of the spirit and the crushing realities of practical existence. Hawthorne wrestles with the stark contrast between his mundane job at the Custom House—measuring salt and coal—and his inner life as a writer and lover. The correspondence argues that true love is an ethereal, eternal reality that transcends physical distance, grief, and societal obligations. It also examines the nature of artistic sensitivity, showing how devotion to another person can rescue a soul from dark isolation, reframing everyday toil as a stepping stone toward a shared, idealized sanctuary.

Why Read It Today

This collection will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic historical letters, lovers of nineteenth-century American literature, and admirers of Hawthorne’s fiction seeking a personal look at his interior life. Reading these pages feels like stepping into a private, firelit room, offering an intimate glimpse into the mind of a legendary author as he navigates the delicate, nervous excitement of courtship.

The collection requires some patience, as modern readers must adjust to the repetitive nature of daily correspondence, Victorian sentimentality, and period spelling variations. The narrative moves at the slow pace of nineteenth-century post, filled with small details of weather, minor illnesses, and logistics. Yet, what lingers is the earnest purity of Hawthorne's devotion and the stark, vivid contrast between the soot of the Boston wharves and the luminous world of his imagination.