The "Scarlet Letter" is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. It is set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts and tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who bears an illegitimate child and is publicly shamed for her sin of adultery. She is forced to wear a red letter "A" on her clothing as a symbol of her shame. The novel explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, highlighting the harshness of societal judgment. It also delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships, particularly through the characters of Dimmesdale, Hester's lover, and Chillingworth, her estranged husband.