The Scarlet Letter is a classic novel set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who bears an illegitimate child and is condemned to wear a scarlet "A" (for "adulteress") on her chest as punishment. Hester bravely endures the public shame while raising her daughter, Pearl. Her secret lover, the town minister Arthur Dimmesdale, is wracked with guilt, while her estranged husband, Roger Chillingworth, seeks revenge. Through themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, Hawthorne critiques the rigid moral codes of the Puritan society. The novel explores the complexities of individual conscience versus societal judgment, making it a timeless reflection on human nature and justice. 
**Summary by Dream AudioBooks**.