Ocean State Libraries

Hailed by Henry James as "the finest piece of imaginative writing yet put forth in the country", Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter reaches to our nation's historical and moral roots for the material of great tragedy. Set in an early New England colony, the novel shows the terrible impact a single, passionate act has on the lives of three members of the community: the defiant Hester Prynne; the fiery, tortured Reverend Dimmesdale; and the obsessed,...

"At the court of Chancery, the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case grinds on for years with no end in sight. Entangled in the lawsuit are a growing number of innocent victims: Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, whose inheritance is gradually being devoured by legal costs; Esther Summerson, a child with mysterious parentage; and even Jo, the destitute little crossing-sweeper. As the case staggers onward, yet more people become embroiled in the furious legal battle,...

Set in nineteenth-century Portugal, the illegitimate son of two members of the aristocracy tries to discover the truth of his parentage.

Trapped in a disastrous marriage to local butcher Fred Loam, Hannah must fight for her freedom, her life, and the man she loves.

In 1952, a young Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea in Ireland after giving birth to her first child. When her son became a toddler, the nuns sent him to America for adoption. Philomena then spent the next fifty years seeking for him in vain.

Jude Fawley is a poor stone carver who is tricked into a loveless marriage and ultimately forced to give up his dreams of a university education. After his wife deserts him, he begins a scandalous relationship with his cousin Sue Bridehead.

"Nick Pearson is a successful author, notable for his writings about how kids ruin relationships. He is about to settle down with his perfect mate. However, on the night of their rehearsal dinner, a thirteen-year-old boy shows up claiming to be his son." --

"A lush, engrossing tale of love, deception and scandal in the 18th century French court of King Louis XV. Against the tumult of 18th century France, King Louis XV has tired of courtly intrigues and becomes a connoisseur of innocence. On the grounds of the Palace of Versailles lies Deer Park, a hunting ground that also offers another pleasure: a mansion where his young mistresses are housed. But when these girls first arrive at Deer Park, it is under...

Set in the 19th century, the illegitimate son of a British aristocrat, Benjamin Blake, is forced into servitude by a wicked uncle. As a rebellious young man, Benjamin falls for a beautiful aristocrat and is beaten as punishment. Fleeing his tyrannical uncle, Benjamin stows away on a ship and lands on an idyllic South Pacific island. There he romances an exotic native beauty and earns a fortune diving for pearls with a fellow shipmate. But Benjamin's...

"In the year 520 AD, during the bloody battle of Camlann, King Arthur, aided by his legendary sword Excalibur, lands a fatal blow to his traitor son Mordred. Arthur's dying wish to his loyal knight, Sir Bedivere, is to return Excalibur, the source of is powers, to the Lady in the Lake. Nineteen years later, an older Sir Bedivere finds himself in jail after trying to free Arthur's son, Owain, from the town guards when he is caught stealing from Lord...