1. The Christmas Banquet by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a tantalising read. This book will keep you hooked till the very end. Every year the ten most miserable people in town are invited to a Christmas banquet. Their misery is shared alongside the holiday feast, and every year, an increasingly wretched Gervayse Hastings makes his appearance. Over time, all the other guests seem to have grown in character and risen above their sad condition, except of course, Mr. Hastings. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, Dark romanticism. His themes often centre 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. 2. Love Letters of Nathaniel Hawthorne Experience the romantic side of Nathaniel Hawthorne with this collection of his love letters. Full of passionate expressions of love and devotion, this book is a great gift for anyone who appreciates the beauty of the written word.