《红字》一书以17世纪中叶的新英格兰为背景，通过对三个主要人物的思想矛盾和生活悲剧的描写，揭示了当时社会的真实图景。故事的叙述者、萨莱姆海关稽查长一天在翻阅旧档案时，无意间发现了一个褪了色的丝绣“A”和一卷脏旧的文稿，从而窥见了记载在上面的这则抑郁而动人的故事。

THE CUSTOM HOUSE—INTRODUCTORY

Ⅰ THE PRlSON-DOOR

Ⅱ THE MARKET-PLACE

Ⅲ THE RECOGNITION

Ⅳ THE INTERVlEW

Ⅴ HESTER AT HER NEEDLE

Ⅵ PEARL

Ⅶ THE GOVERNOR'S HALL

Ⅷ THE ELF-CHlLD AND THE MINISTER

Ⅸ THE LEECH

Ⅹ THE LEECH AND HIS PATlENT

Ⅺ THE INTERIOR OF A HEART

Ⅻ THE MINISTER'S VIGI

ⅩⅢ ANOTHER VIEW OF HESTER

ⅩⅣ HESTER AND THE PHYSICIAN

ⅩⅤ HESTER AND PEARL

ⅩⅥ A FOREST WALK

ⅩⅦ THE PASTOR AND HIS PARISHIONER

ⅩⅧ A FLOOD OF SUNSHlNE

ⅩⅨ THE CHILD AT THE BROOK-SlDE

ⅩⅩ THE MINISTER IN A MAZE

ⅩⅩⅠ THE NEW ENGLAND HO LlDAY

ⅩⅩⅡ THE PROCESSION

ⅩⅩⅢ THE REVELATlON

ⅩⅩⅣ CONCLUSION