**Book Review: *Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter***

*Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter* masterfully reimagines Nathaniel Hawthorne’s iconic novel, offering a visually stunning and emotionally resonant adaptation that captures the essence of this timeless tale. Through beautiful artwork and thoughtful storytelling, this manga breathes new life into the story of Hester Prynne, making it accessible and engaging for a modern audience.

Hester Prynne’s struggle with societal judgment, personal guilt, and unwavering resilience is vividly depicted through expressive illustrations that convey the deep emotions and inner turmoil of the characters. The art adds layers to Hawthorne’s themes of sin, redemption, and human strength, drawing readers into the Puritan world with its period-accurate details and dramatic compositions.

The manga format enhances the narrative by placing a strong emphasis on visual storytelling. Key moments, such as Hester’s public shaming on the scaffold and her quiet defiance, are brought to life with striking imagery that evokes both sympathy and admiration. The interplay of light and shadow in the artwork reflects the novel’s moral complexities, while the characters’ facial expressions and body language add depth to their emotional journeys.

While the adaptation streamlines parts of the original novel for pacing and clarity, it retains the core elements and themes that make *The Scarlet Letter* a literary classic. Hester’s strength, Dimmesdale’s torment, and Chillingworth’s vengeful obsession are all faithfully portrayed, making this an excellent companion to Hawthorne’s work for both new readers and longtime fans.

This manga is also a valuable educational tool, offering an engaging way for students to approach classic literature. With its free lesson plans and teacher’s guides, *Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter* is perfect for classrooms and libraries looking to introduce students to Hawthorne’s complex moral and social themes in an accessible format.

Overall, *Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter* is a brilliant adaptation that stays true to the spirit of the original while taking full advantage of the manga medium’s strengths. It’s a must-read for fans of classic literature, manga enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience Hester Prynne’s powerful story in a new and compelling way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

The Art style is beautiful. The story is true to original and easily accessible. It will be great for introducing younger readers to classic literature and historical societies norms. For me the story in general is ok.

A gripping book, this story pulls you till the very end, I enjoyed reading it. I definitely will love to see more from the author

A great adaptation of a classic tale. While I would not recommend it as a replacement for the novel for, say, a school paper, this format makes the tale far more accessible to the average reader than it may be otherwise.

I appreciate also the design detail of having the "A" colored in, out of an entirely black and white comic. It drew attention to it in the way it would have in Hester's world.

It does a great job of reinterpreting Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale of sin and redemption. The artwork is expressive and captures the somber mood of the story beautifully.

I appreciated how the manga format made the complex themes more accessible, allowing for a quicker read without losing the essence of the characters and their struggles. However, some of the intricate symbolism from the original text felt a bit diluted in this adaptation, which could leave readers wanting more depth.

Overall, this is a compelling and visually engaging introduction to Hawthorne’s work, making it a solid choice for both manga fans and those looking to explore classic literature.

Adapting classics into manga allows for greater literacy surrounding classic stories. The art in this is fitting, but could be more gothic in my opinion. Chillingsworth is well depicted, especially with the snake. After seeing many films adaptions, I am happy to see manga join the collection.

***read as ARC from NetGalley***

Like many, I read this in high school English. I still have my battered Putnam classic on a shelf somewhere.

In school, we are taught about the harshness of the environment in which the earliest settlers developed America and the strict and rigid Puritan culture. Knowing that background going into reading this book, helps set the tone and atmosphere for what it would have been like for our main character, Hester, to walk out of the courthouse/jail with the scarlet letter on her chest.

Keeping all of that in mind, when I began reading this novel (my first manga classic), I was thrown by the lack of the ominous and oppressive. It was...cute and light.

That said, it is a beautiful adaptation of the novel. The artist conveys the stress of Hester's situation and life with expressive facial reactions and the action of the reacting/interacting characters

I agree with another reviewer that this novel makes it obvious who the father is way too early in the story. That reveal, closer to the end in the novel, makes for a powerful moment and gives the other moral of the story. The first is the sin of adultery. The other is hypocrisy of the righteous. He lets her take her punishment and his, even though he is.... no spoilers here!

This classic by Nathaniel Hawthorne was beautifully remastered into this manga. While i love the original story i do understand it is a bit of a tougher read for some adults and most teens. I think the underling messages of this book tend to get lost on some due to our modern views on many of the ideals and practices from when this was written and the time period it is written about. Reading through this again and in this adaptation really made me connect to the main character. Not everything is always as it seems and People should not be judged by the first impressions or gossip of others. Hawthorne does a great job at showcasing the issues and This adaptation did the original novel justice.

This is one of my absolute favorites of the Manga Classics. It is beautifully adapted and the story is so good and so powerful in this format. I read The Scarlett Letter back in high school. I don’t remember much about it. However, the imagery along with the story makes it now one of my favorite classic stories.

Heaster is such a powerful woman. Her husband was not around and she fell for a pastor and ended up having an illegitimate child. When she is condemned by the community she does not give the name of the man even though she would have every right to do so. Over time the guilt eats away at the pastor, but Heaster only grows stronger as a person.

I am a great believer in radical honesty. I don’t think that Heaster ever did anything wrong, but in her honesty and in her service to her community she becomes someone that people respect instead of scorn. Her ability to hold her head high regardless what anyone said to harm her is so powerful.

The art in this adaption is stunning and you can tell the emotion of a scene just from the art alone. It’s a beautiful, powerful, and timeless read.

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. I love these Manga Classics. Really hope they are going to do more of them. This was another great addition to the Manga Classics. Loved the story and the drawings

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Being a huge fan of the original novel, I was interested to see the fresh Manga Classic's interpretation of this important novel. They did a great job!

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter offers a fresh and visually captivating take on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s timeless tale of sin, guilt, and redemption. Adapted by Crystal S. Chan and illustrated by SunNeko Lee, this manga version stays remarkably true to the original narrative while infusing it with the dynamic and expressive art style characteristic of manga.

The story follows Hester Prynne, a woman shunned by her Puritan community after bearing an illegitimate child. The manga captures the intense emotional landscape of Hester’s journey, from her public shaming to her quiet resilience and strength. The artwork vividly portrays the stark contrasts of Puritan society, the oppressive atmosphere, and the inner turmoil of the characters.

One of the exceptional features of this adaptation is how it makes the classic story accessible to a new generation of readers. The manga format, with its detailed illustrations and expressive character designs, brings a new depth to the characters’ emotions and the story’s dramatic moments. Hester’s scarlet letter “A” is depicted with a subtle yet powerful intensity, symbolizing her shame and strength.

This adaptation also includes helpful guides for readers new to manga, explaining how to read the panels and understand the flow of the story. This thoughtful inclusion ensures that even those unfamiliar with manga can fully appreciate the narrative.

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter is a beautifully crafted adaptation that honors Hawthorne’s original work while offering a fresh perspective. It’s a must-read for fans of classic literature and manga enthusiasts alike, providing a unique and engaging way to experience this enduring story.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ebook ARC. I'm very grateful to review this book.

I’m going to make this VERY clear: This book is not for me. I normally would say this at the end, but I don’t believe classics and this type of verbiage to be my preferred reading. I thought initially it would be different, but it seems to be text to manga, word-for-word adaptation. In that case, this is great for people who want that. I want to make it clear that this is not for me and this book can still be great for those wanting to read classics in an easier, fun, or accessible way. Please keep that in mind when moving forward.

Another note: I’ve never read the original, so please continue if you want the perspective of someone who has not read the original material.

This story is essentially about a woman named Hester who has committed a sin and has received a Scarlet Letter, the letter “A” representing “adultery” (I believe?) because she cheated on her husband with another, and must navigate life with her daughter Pearl through the torment of society and the judgment of peers. To be in the good graces of others, she must not commit another sin or otherwise have her daughter taken away.

This adaptation, once again, is not for me. I figured it would play on manga/anime tropes by making the story a bit lighthearted and breaking the tension at points. I’m not saying for its entirety, but to give space for relaxing, in a sense. It felt like reading the novel but with visual aids. It was really boring and nothing gravitated toward me. In fact, anything exciting that happened I was confused on. I wasn’t sure what happened with the Reverend Dimmensdale and what his “sin” was that his “friend” was tormenting him with. I believe I personally know, given context clues and a Google search, but it wasn’t clear. It didn’t need to be crystal clear, but I didn’t know what Dimmensdale was expressing on the platform near the end of the story. I liked that the team working on this piece decided to not be blatant with his sin, as not holding the reader’s hand, but I do wish there were more clues into what it was. We, as the reader, saw his torment, which I somewhat enjoyed, and the agony it had on him. It could have been referring to his friend, but the instances where it was directly hinting, like the panel at the end, weren’t clear to me.

I want to discuss the positives: The art. Stunning. Gorgeous. Is it high-tier manga art? Not necessarily, but I love the expressions - the insanity, joy, curiosity, etc. - captured in each of the characters. While I wished they would have had a couple of manga tropes like jokes and such to break the tension, and also to make if feel different from the original, I fully respect them respecting the material they are interpreting. This is amazing and stellar work. I also appreciate the messaging of the letter with Hester, as I thought that was handled great, too. I felt the letter was to be worn and wear your flaws on your sleeve, never to feel ashamed of the person you are.

Again, I must reiterate, that this book is not for me as I might not be as much into classics that would be read for school. I do wish the authors would have made it a little bit more of theirs if that makes sense. That being said, if I had read the Scarlet Letter, this interpretation would have been useful to me. If there are students out there who love manga and are assigned the Scarlet Letter, check this out.

Love the art style, plot was interesting. Haven’t read the original so I have no clue how it compares but as a story on it's own this is a good read. I would recommend giving these manga classic adaptations a go they’re very fun and they do a great job at making classics more accessible since the language and dialogue are considerably easier to follow. 3.5⭐️

I love this idea! I love a lot of classic books but some of them can make you feel bogged down or disinterested so I love the idea of having them in manga/graphic novel form! I will say you do miss out on the more in depth pieces of the story but I feel that's to be expected and this should be viewed as more of a summary of the book with some beautiful art

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!

I really liked the art in this. It's nice and simple and pleasant to look at. Unlike the other Manga Classic I read (A Study in Scarlet), I haven't read this before. I do feel like I missed a lot of the intricacies with this narrative because I only had the visual medium. The daughter in particular left me a bit confuzzled multiple times. Also not sure if the reveal of her father was supposed to be so obvious. I feel like it was, but who's to say? Overall, as someone only reading the manga version, I couldn't tell what was exaggerated for the medium or just direct 'translation.' Still, the story itself is strong, and I can see why it made such a strong impact as to become a classic. Also, again, pretty art :D

Beautifully illustrated; love the contrast between black and white drawings and the scarlet-colored letter “A”! Great review for those who have read the novel; great story for those who have not.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne can be read in a somewhat interesting way by reading Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. As a Gen Xer, I was curious to see what a classic novel would look like in Manga. If you're trying to get the young generation interested in classics, this may be a good way to do so. I was surprised to find that the classic language remained somewhat similar. It would have been nice to have seen the pictures in color, but perhaps all Manga graphics are black and white.

Awesome adaptation of the classic novel The Scarlet Letter! I read the original version a few years ago and although the story and themes are great, the writing style is dry and outdated, making it difficult to read and enjoy. This manga adaptation took the original story and modernized the language while also adding lovely illustrations. I can see this manga being a useful way to help understand the original material for students. This formatting also allows classic stories to be more accessible to a wider range of readers.

Great Read

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you, Crystal S. Chan for the opportunity to read your book. This was an enjoyable read. This is a part of the Manga Classics series. In this book, Hester Prynne had a few-month-old baby while away from her husband for 2 years. As a result, she has been publicly shamed and has to wear a Scarlet letter “A” for Adulterous on her body. I thought this story was great. I did not read the original “Scarlet Letter,” but I thought the manga did a great job illustrating the story and the illustrations were great. I thought Hester was a great character. I wished her character could have expressed her feelings more, but I found her character brave. I did not like the priest. He made it obvious that something was wrong by putting his hand on his heart, but was acting oddly near the end of the book, almost pervertish. I thought the ending was nice. I hope that I get to read more Manga Classic stories. Overall, a great read.

I went to my reading history and checked when I read The Scarlet Letter (the novel) and it was more than a decade ago. My star rating for it was 3.
I went into the manga classic (it was already on my want-to-read list for some time along with some other Manga Classics) without remembering much about the story, and funnily, I enjoyed the manga version more than the original novel - which is odd and rare.
And the reason why is - the prose! I did not enjoy the prose in the original but the manga version brought out the important themes and plot points and the characterisation more effectively.

The scarlet colouring is a nice touch.