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The Devil in Manuscript

Nathaniel Hawthorne

First published 1851
Type Short Fiction
Length Short Story

"Oberon" (a semi-autobiogaphical character) is visited by a friend, who narrates this tale, telling how Oberon is maddened by isolation and by the failure of his writing, which 17 publishers have rejected. Oberon declares that there is a demon in his manuscripts and decides to throw them into the fire.

First published (as by Ashley A. Royce) in the New England Magazine, November 1835.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
1851 The Snow-Image, and Other Tales Henry G. Bohn Collection 129
January 1852 Cover The Snow-Image, and Other Twice-Told Tales Ticknor, Reed, and Fields Collection 203
1937 Cover The Complete Novels and Selected Tales of Nathaniel Hawthorne Modern Library Omnibus 1203
July 1945 Cover Speak of the Devil Doubleday, Doran Anthology 297
1974 The Snow-Image and Uncollected Tales Ohio State University Press Collection |12
1982 Cover Tales and Sketches The Library of America Omnibus 330
March 1998 Cover Don't Open This Book! GuildAmerica Books / SFBC Anthology 366
2003 Cover Paholainen käsikirjoituksessa Like Collection 165
2007 Tales and Sketches The Library of America Omnibus |330
January 2008 Cover Bound for Evil: Curious Tales of Books Gone Bad Dead Letter Press Anthology 41