![Book Cover of The Blithedale Romance](/image/book/the-blithedale-romance.webp)
The Blithedale Romance
'The Blithedale Romance' Summary
Shortly before moving to the Communist community of Blithedale in the mid-1800s, Miles Coverdale is approached by Moodie (an apparent beggar) who asks him for a favor. Though willing, Moodie suddenly decides he will ask an older, more experienced man and departs. Miles then explains the legend of the mysterious Veiled Lady: a popular clairvoyant who recently stopped doing public shows. He leaves for Blithedale without his acquaintance Hollingsworth, who arrives later with a frail, timid girl named Priscilla. They are welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Silas Foster (a gruff, experienced farmer) and Zenobia, an uncharacteristically beautiful and charming woman who immediately enchants Cloverdale, Hollingsworth and Priscilla.
Coverdale becomes severely ill and is bedridden. During his sickness, he develops a closeness with Hollingsworth, who cares for him. Meanwhile, Hollingsworth has also become close with Zenobia, and they plan to build a cottage together. Moodie approaches Coverdale in the fields one day and asks about Priscilla and Zenobia, but declines seeing them when he hears they are good friends. During a walk, Coverdale encounters a man named Westervelt, whom he immediately dislikes. He asks to see Zenobia, but only in a private way. Coverdale gives him some instruction but wonders about his motives. Shortly thereafter Cloverdale sees and overhears Westervelt walking with Zenobia and assumes them to be arguing about some past encounter.
Later, Zenobia tells a story titled "The Silvery Veil" in which she theorizes that Priscilla, whose background is a mystery, may in fact be the Veiled Lady. Afterward, Coverdale, Hollingsworth, Zenobia and Priscilla meet at Eliot's Pulpit, a distinctive rock they habitually visit. There they discuss women's rights, and Zenobia surprisingly sides with Hollingsworth (and against Coverdale) on a misogynistic point of view of women's roles. As they leave the Pulpit, Coverdale witnesses a moment of affection between Zenobia and Hollingsworth.
Coverdale and Hollingsworth's disagreements intensify the next day when they discuss their hopes for the future of Blithedale - Hollingsworth, who has devoted himself to criminal rehabilitation, hopes to establish a facility for that purpose on the farm. When Hollingsworth indicates that Coverdale is either "with him or against him" in this effort, Coverdale refuses to assist him and effectively ends their friendship. Coverdale decides to seek respite from the tumultuous relationships at the farm and leaves for the city.
In the city, Coverdale idly looks out from his hotel window into a boarding-house and thinks he sees Priscilla; in another room, he surely sees Zenobia and Westervelt. They see him, so he goes to visit. Zenobia confirms that Priscilla is there, but Westervelt abruptly indicates that they must leave, and take Priscilla with them. Suspicious, Coverdale seeks out Moodie. Moodie explains that his name used to be Fauntleroy, and he was a wealthy man. His first daughter was Zenobia. He fell on financial ruin and left her to be raised by his still-wealthy uncle (who died, leaving her considerable wealth). Later, he remarries a pauper woman, and fathers Priscilla. Her unusual ways gain the attention of a "wizard," who has an odd relationship with her. By some way he manages to get a message to Zenobia and entreats her to look out for Priscilla, but does not reveal that they are related.
Coverdale is extremely shocked and proceeds to a show of the Veiled Lady, where he recognizes Westervelt as the "wizard." Hollingsworth is also in the audience. When Coverdale asks Hollingsworth where Priscilla is, he goes up on stage, removes the veil and takes her away. The three return to Blithedale immediately; Coverdale returns later. Upon his return, he dreads seeing the three, and takes a circuitous path through the trees. There he witnesses a bizarre scene of the community dressed as witches, fairies and other creatures; when he laughs, they chase him and he runs toward Eliot's Pulpit. There he finds his three companions; Zenobia indicates that he has just missed a "trial" of some sort conducted by Hollingsworth. She proceeds to accuse him of selfishness and heartlessness and he angrily leaves with Priscilla, who follows him obediently. Zenobia begins to weep bitterly.
When she recovers, she tells Coverdale that she will eventually get over it but will leave Blithedale immediately. She says she will become a nun and asks Coverdale to tell Hollingsworth he has "murdered" her. She leaves and Coverdale falls asleep under the rock. When he awakes at midnight, he proceeds to Hollingsworth's cottage and asks for his help; Silas Foster also wakes up and is asked to help. Leading them to a familiar spot by the river and reflecting on her words, Coverdale reveals he believes Zenobia has drowned herself. Hollingsworth hooks her body with a pole; Silas Foster observes that he left a physical wound near her heart.
Years later, Coverdale muses that he has become listless in life. He visits Hollingsworth, who is a broken man and has not accomplished anything in the way of his dreams of rehabilitation. Priscilla remains dutifully by his side, and Coverdale realizes the weight of Zenobia's death has ruined him. Coverdale himself reveals that he had fallen in love with Priscilla and feels similarly hopeless.
Book Details
Author
![Nathaniel Hawthorne image](/thumbs/image/author/nathaniel-hawthorne.webp)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
United States
Hawthorne's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism, cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity.Many of his...
More on Nathaniel HawthorneDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
![The Candle and the Cat Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-candle-and-the-cat.webp)
The Candle and the Cat by Mary Finley Leonard
When young Caro goes to stay with her Aunt and Grandfather, the seminary president, she learns to not be afraid of the dark and to "be a candle" by "s...
![Wongo And The Wise Old Crow Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/wongo-and-the-wise-old-crow.webp)
Wongo And The Wise Old Crow by Grace Moon
Stories of an Indian boy and his friends told by a children’s author of yesteryear.
![Against the Grain, or Against Nature Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/against-the-grain-or-against-nature.webp)
Against the Grain, or Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans
À rebours (French pronunciation: [a ʁ(ə).buʁ]; translated Against Nature or Against the Grain) is an 1884 novel by the French writer Joris-Karl Huysma...
![The Fox That Wanted Nine Golden Tails Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-fox-that-wanted-nine-golden-tails.webp)
The Fox That Wanted Nine Golden Tails by Kathleen Gray Nelson
In the enchanting world of "The Fox That Wanted Nine Golden Tails" by Kathleen Gray Nelson, prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey that defies...
![Plain Living Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/plain-living.webp)
Plain Living by Rolf Boldrewood
In the heart of the Australian countryside, amidst rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, we meet the residents of Glenmaggie, a small town where l...
![A Lad of Mettle Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/a-lad-of-mettle.webp)
A Lad of Mettle by Nat Gould
When Edgar Foster came to Redbank School he was sixteen, small for his age, but muscular and active. Alumni of the school included accomplished athlet...
![In Search of the Unknown Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/in-search-of-the-unknown.webp)
In Search of the Unknown by Robert W. Chambers
This is a collection of five stories that explore the mysterious and the supernatural. The stories are linked by a common theme: the search for someth...
![The Sea and the Jungle Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-sea-and-the-jungle.webp)
The Sea and the Jungle by Henry Major Tomlinson
The book recounts the thrilling journey of a group of sailors as they navigate the treacherous waters of the Amazon River and the perilous jungles tha...
![The Tale of Nimble Deer Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-tale-of-nimble-deer.webp)
The Tale of Nimble Deer by Arthur Scott Bailey
Nimble Deer was a tiny fawn, but he was the bravest and most resourceful deer in the forest. The Tale of Nimble Deer by Arthur Scott Bailey is a clas...
![The Hungry Stones And Other Stories Cover image](/thumbs/image/book/the-hungry-stones-and-other-stories.webp)
The Hungry Stones And Other Stories by Rabindranath Tagore
'The Hungry Stones and Other Stories' is a collection of thirteen soul-stirring short stories by Tagore. Each and every one of the stories is aestheti...
Reviews for The Blithedale Romance
No reviews posted or approved, yet...