"Twice-Told Tales" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a collection of short stories that displays the author's unique style and versatility as a writer. The tales are set in New England during the colonial and early national periods, and feature Hawthorne's characteristic themes of sin, guilt, and redemption. The title "Twice-Told Tales" refers to the idea that each story is not just being told once, but rather has a history, a past life, and a deeper meaning that is revealed through the telling. In these stories, Hawthorne explores the dark corners of the human soul, and exposes the moral ambiguities that lie at the heart of human experience.