Work and Life and Love, 1850 Version

I really love the Writer's Almanac. The writers on that team constantly uncover fascinating bits of history about literary works and authors.

For example -- did you know that "The Scarlet Letter" was written with the financial support of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne? Evidently, when Nathaniel Hawthorne lost his job at the Salem Custom House, his wife, Sophia, surprised him by giving him money that she had saved up from her household allowance so that he could write a book. She bought his time so that he could write the book that became "The Scarlet Letter," published in 1850.

My first thought was, "Oh look! Another invisible woman making classic art possible, her name lost to history while a man's became important." But perhaps that's a bit born-again-feminist in tone. Also, it appears that they were a very happy couple, in love with each other and satisfied with their partnership.

My second thought was, "What a beautiful example of the ebb and flow of support between work and love," and "Every high school teacher should use that factoid to introduce the book to their students." I know I would have found the book much more interesting had I known how it came about.