I am aghast. Seriously.

I mean, seriously!

But let me back up…

I started reading a new novel last week – a slightly spooky mystery by an author whose stories I have enjoyed for many years. In this book, each chapter begins with a quote – related in most cases to women authors and their writing (as the story is about a long-lost nineteenth century manuscript). See if you can imagine my reaction when I read this one…

All women, as authors, are feeble and tiresome. I wish they were forbidden to write, on pain of having their faces deeply sacrificed with an oyster shell.

Nathaniel Hawthorne
letter to his publisher, 1852

Yes, the Nathaniel Hawthorne who wrote The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables.

Is he kidding?!!!

Now, not wanting to jump to conclusions…because the quote could have been taken out of context...I spent the weekend doing research on the internet. (Despite my degree in English Lit I never studied Hawthorne. If I get any of the following wrong, I know AM will correct me.)

Now, Nathaniel sounds like he was an alright guy overall…grew up in a home with a single mom and sisters (his dad died young) and after some lonely adult years, met and married the love of his life who he seemed to adore. He was embarrassed and ashamed of his own ancestors’ poor behaviour (as far back as the Salem witch trials) and his stories are apparently complex studies of good vs evil and moral behaviour. Considering that he often struggled with writing and inspiration during periods where he had to make money at a desk job, and the fact that his own writing was often classified as the “romantic” style, I was even more surprised to conclude that he did apparently mean what he said in the noted quote. Not only that, he went on to say the following two years later:

America is now wholly given over to a d___d mob of scribbling women, and I should have no chance of success while the public taste is occupied with their trash...and should be ashamed of myself if I did.

I mean, seriously!

Different time and all that, I know. Whatever.

Those who have known me longest may not be surprised to hear that my own long neglected novel has suddenly been dusted off (figuratively) and I hope to get back to work.

Can’t let Nate have the last word, even if it is in my own mind.