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Hester's Boston

The novel moves between a few places in a small Puritan town: the prison, the scaffold and the dark forest beyond. Scroll to follow Hester.

harbour Prison Scaffold Meeting-house Governor's hall Hester's cottage Forest Ship

Sketch map, not to scale

  1. Chapter 1

    The prison door

    A wild rose by a grim door.

    Listen: Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2

    The scaffold

    Hester stands before the town with Pearl and the A.

    Listen: Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 4

    The interview

    Chillingworth visits her cell.

    Listen: Chapter 4
  4. Chapter 5

    At her needle

    A lonely cottage at the edge of town.

    Listen: Chapter 5
  5. Chapter 7

    The governor's hall

    Pearl sees the A huge in a suit of armour.

    Listen: Chapter 7
  6. Chapter 12

    The midnight vigil

    Dimmesdale on the scaffold under a meteor.

    Listen: Chapter 12
  7. Chapter 17

    The forest

    Hester and Dimmesdale meet at last.

    Listen: Chapter 17
  8. Chapter 19

    The brook

    Pearl will not cross until the A is back.

    Listen: Chapter 19
  9. Chapter 21

    The ship

    A plan to flee, and a passenger they did not expect.

    Listen: Chapter 21
  10. Chapter 22

    The sermon

    The minister's greatest sermon.

    Listen: Chapter 22
  11. Chapter 23

    The revelation

    Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold one last time.

    Listen: Chapter 23