The Marble Faun, 1860, First edition, Second issue

The Marble Faun: Or the Romance of Monte Beni . Nathaniel Hawthorne. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1860. First edition, Second Impression. Small octavo, original blind-stamped brown cloth. Gilt titling on the spines. Volume One is xi, 283 pages , signature 1* on page vii, with 16 pages of publisher's adverts in the rear, dated March 1860. The Table of Contents precedes the Preface. Volume Two has 284 pages.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral metaphors with an anti-Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his college friend Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States. The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni, also known by the British title Transformation, was the last of the four major romances by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and was published in 1860. The Marble Faun, written on the eve of the American Civil War, is set in a fantastical Italy. The romance mixes elements of a fable, pastoral, gothic novel, and travel guide. (Wikipedia)