In 'Biographical Sketches, Nathaniel Hawthorne' presents a collection of intimate portraits of five intriguing individuals from early American history. From the Puritan reformer Anne Hutchinson, to the wealthy and powerful Sir William Phips and Sir William Pepperell, to the lesser-known but talented poet Thomas Green Fessenden and the tragically fated Jonathan Cilley, Hawthorne brings to life their unique personalities and experiences.