The Scarlet Letter

"Preface to the Second Edition: Much to the author's surprise, and (if he may say so without additional offence) considerably to his amusement, he finds that his sketch of official life, introductory to 'The Scarlet Letter", has created an unprecedented excitement in the respectable community around him. It could hardly have been more violent, indeed, had he burned down the Custom-House, and quenched its last smoking ember in the blood of a certain venerable personage, against whom he is supposed to cherish a particular malevolence."