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A New England family struggles under the weight of their haunted past. The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, follows the mentally and emotionally unstable Pyncheon clan. Their ancestral home is the source of many strange happenings due to its controversial history rooted in witchcraft, deception and death.
About the author
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was an American writer best known for his novels and short stories. Born in Massachusetts, Hawthorne was a descendant of some of the state’s earliest settlers. One of his ancestors, John Hathorne, was a judge during the infamous Salem witch trials. As a young man, Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College, where he met many notable figures including future president Franklin Pierce and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He then began his literary career as a magazine editor and sketch writer. Hawthorne would also produce novels such as Fanshawe, The House of the Seven Gables, and his most famous work, The Scarlet Letter.
Summary
A brother and sister occupy their family home, which has been linked to a series of unfortune events including the death of its original owner. They attempt to avoid their ancestor’s fate and escape their looming legacy.
Hepzibah and Clifford Pyncheon live in a historic manor that has been in their family for generations. The property was built in the seventeenth century on stolen land that originally belonged to Matthew Maule. He was targeted, detained and eventually executed after being suspected of witchcraft. The legend claims Maule cursed the Pyncheon family, leading to a string of unexplained events starting with the death of the home’s new owner. In the present, Hepzibah and Clifford are struggling with their financial, mental and emotional burdens.
The House of the Seven Gables is a rich and haunting tale set in Hawthorne’s native New England. It’s a multigenerational story that thrives on mystery, suspense and elements of Gothic horror.
With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The House of Seven Gables is both modern and readable.
