The House of Seven Gables (Bantam Classics)

Book Description

In a sleepy little New England village stands a dark, weather-beaten, many-gabled house. This brooding mansion is haunted by a centuries-old curse that casts the shadow of ancestral sin upon the last four members of the distinctive Pyncheon family. Mysterious deaths threaten the living. Musty documents nestle behind hidden panels carrying the secret of the family’s salvation—or its downfall.

Hawthorne called The House of the Seven Gables “a Romance,” and freely bestowed upon it many fascinating gothic touches. A brilliant intertwining of the popular, the symbolic, and the historical, the novel is a powerful exploration of personal and national guilt, a work that Henry James declared “the closest approach we are likely to have to the Great American Novel.”

Customer Reviews:

ponderous.......2007-08-03

Dusty classics of this type when assigned to poor high-school kids typically elicit a wave of one- and two-star reviews consisting mostly of complaints that the work was "boring", usually for the reasons of too much description or most commonly, "no plot". They have trouble simply getting through it, but their school deems the work edifying, or at least did the last time anybody bothered to review the reading lists, so it's off to SparkNotes and the sham continues.

I claim boredom for this work but not in that sense, having read it voluntarily after all. Two novels I have ploughed through in the last year, namely The Idiot and Tale of Two Cities were more "boring" in the sense of being hard to get through, though both were greater novels by far I thought. I had no trouble on the other hand getting through Seven Gables. The boredom for me rather arose from finding nothing particularly compelling about Hawthorne's observations. Only a ponderous "behold my pronouncements" style. Rendered the more dull read so soon after that marvel of deft wit and light touch, Gulliver's Travels. Hawthorne is the anti-Swift--no travels for him! His lumbering, self-important prose reflecting his stolid, adventure-free life.

An indiscriminate deployment of minute analysis unto every topic that wandered into his view--the chickens, the getting of Phoebe out of her bedroom and down the stairs (3 pages), as examples. And to what end? A dubious premise--that the sins of the ancestors are visited upon the descendants. By what mechanism--karma? The kind of God who keeps a ledger of credits and debits? Some mysterion he couldn't be bothered to elucidate, just woooo--ghosts! Then a banal and predictable outcome, in which all live happily. Half-baked trends such as "mesmerism" offered but not defended.

How the novel might have been improved by Hawthorne getting out the damn house and down the street. Wade into the hubbub down at the Salem wharfs five minutes away--plenty of real adventure and drama to be found there, no need to resort to spooks. Dickens walked miles and miles in London. Melville went whaling. But this recessive little piggie stayed home, and the book suffers for it. Humorless gasbag, I say.

Departure from what I normally read, but good.......2007-07-24

I've had a copy of the House of Seven Gables sitting on my bookshelf for a number of years. The poor little book is slightly out of place between a plethora of fantasy and science fiction novels. Every once in a while I try to venture into a different realm of subject. That's the reason I finally picked up this book to read. I would have read it sooner but I was forced to read "The Scarlet Letter" in high school and never had the heart to read another Nathaniel Hawthorne novel.

Not expecting much, I have to say I was very impressed with this book. The details got to be a bit much at times. I have to admit there were parts of the book that I scanned quit quickly because I just didn't need to know that much description about a certain thing.

That being said, Hawthorne was very good at clearly painting a picture in my head. I could smell the mustiness of the house, feel the joy when Phoebe entered a room, and feel Clifford's sadness and confusion. What took me by surprise was the sharp wit throughout the book and intellectualness of this wit. Quit often I found myself laughing out loud at some of the dry humor in this book. Also of course there was the mystery of the book which kept you hanging on until the end.

I don't know that I will read any additional Hawthorne novels but I would recommend this as a good example of his work. It is much more interesting and engaging than the Scarlet Letter.

happy.......2007-05-17

the book was packed very well and i would not think twice to order another book from them. THANKS

Fabulous Hawthorne.......2007-02-14

What a great book. In truth, I found The Scarlet Letter a little hard to read, though I can appreciate its merit. This novel, however, kept me involved from start to finish and the symbolism in the text is so rich that one could read HSOG twenty times and discover something new each time.
Hawthorne is really dealing with appearances in this text but is also suggesting the step toward modernity with the advent of the railway and electricity, things still "novel" at the time of writing. HSOG spurns tradition in many ways and lays bear the faults of an aristocratic society.
This is a small book, but very dense. A rewarding classic without question.

classics.......2006-11-03

House of Seven Gables was mandatory reading in high school. I have been out of school for many years and have been reading the "classics" again. I am enjoying them so much. I will be adding this to my Grandchildren's library and who knows someday they may enjoy these books as much as I have. pb

The House of the Seven Gables (Norton Critical Edition)

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The gloomy dignity of an inherited curse
Read this again
Nathaniel Hawthorne Meets Charles Dickens.
fabulous edition

The House of the Seven Gables (Norton Critical Edition)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393924769

Book Description

This all-new edition of Hawthorne's celebrated 1851 novel is based on The Ohio State University Press's Centenary Edition of the Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is accompanied by thorough explanatory annotations and an insightful introduction to the novel and antebellum culture by Robert S. Levine.

" Contexts" brings together a generous selection of primary materials intended to provide readers with background on the novel's central themes. Historical documents include accounts of Salem's history by Thomas Maule, Robert Calef, Joseph B. Felt, and Charles W. Upham, which Hawthorne drew on for The House of the Seven Gables. The importance of the house in antebellum America—as a manifestation of the body, a site of genealogical history, and a symbol of the republic's middle class—is explored through the diverse writings of William Andrus Alcott, Edgar Allan Poe, and J. H. Agnew, among others. The impact of technological developments on the novel, especially of daguerreotypy, is considered through the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Gustave de Beaumont, and Alexis de Tocqueville, among others. Also included are two of Hawthorne's literary sketches—"Alice Doane's Appeal" and "The Old Apple Dealer"—that demonstrate the continuity of Hawthorne's style, from his earlier periodical writing to his later career as a novelist.

" Criticism" provides a comprehensive overview of the critical commentary on the novel from its publication to the present. Among the twenty-seven critics represented are Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry James, Nina Baym, Eric Sundquist, Richard H. Millington, Alan Trachtenberg, Amy Schrager Lang, and Christopher Castiglia.

A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehensive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

Customer Reviews:

The gloomy dignity of an inherited curse.......2007-09-15

In Hawthorne's times, wealth and power were vested in landownership.
In this book, a conflict about landownership is solved in favour of a member of the powerful by incriminating of witchcraft and executing the poor owner of a hut. `Clergymen, judges, statesmen stood in the inner circle round about the gallows loudest to applaud the work of blood.'
But the innocent victim utters a prophecy on the scaffold: `God would give them blood to drink.'
The wrongdoing becomes a curse for all generations to come. They will be `slaves of bygone times.'

The House of the Seven Gables, the expression of that odious Past, stands for `what we call real estate - the solid ground to build a house on it - is the broad foundation on which nearly all the guilt of the world rests.'
One of the main characters, the Judge, represents the respectability of Puritanism. But he is in fact a selfish, iron-hearted hypocrite, greedy of wealth. He is a member of the schemers: `practiced politicians skilled to adjust those measures which steal the people the power of choosing its own rulers.'
As in `The Scarlet Letter', Nathaniel Hawthorne exposes in this book forcefully the Phariseism of the Puritans and the powerful. It culminates in a very surprising and highly dramatic end.

Not to be missed.

Read this again.......2007-08-20

Sometimes it seems a mistake to force high school students to read 19th century literature. It does take patience to adjust to the "old fashioned" prose, but it's worth the effort. House of Seven Gables is an eerie ghost story based upon actual historical events. Hawthorne knew Salem and its history inside and out, and he also knew how to create a haunting atmosphere and a story that stays in the mind forever. He's one of the few authors who conveys a sense of Puritan fatalism and repression without resorting to gothic romance cliches. This is an excellent piece of literature, and if you haven't given it a chance by rereading it as an adult, you're missing a great experience.

Nathaniel Hawthorne Meets Charles Dickens........2006-08-10

If you are not familiar with Nathaniel Hawthorne, it may help you to read chapter 13 first. The events in chapter 13 take place before anything else in the story. That said, this book is phenomenal. It would almost appear that Nathaniel Hawthorne was taking lessons from Charles Dickens at this time. Amongst other things, Hawthorne explores the theme that greed leads to one's downfall. (One of Dickens's favorite themes.) After setting the mood, Hawthorne introduces us to Hepzibah. (A down on her luck lady who realizes she needs to survive somehow and opens a cent shop. Yet another Dickens's element.) In her desperation, she carries dignity, but also places demands on our sympathy. The young Phoebe later comes to help Hepzibah, and she adds some hope to the picture. We also learn that Hepzibah's cousin Jaffrey is after Hepzibah's brother Clifford. Hepzibah is frightened of Jaffrey, and Hawthorne will later tell us why. Showing another Dickens's element, we meet the sympathetic and eccentric Clifford. (His room is actually concealed. He has habits that appear strange to many, and Hepzibah is frightened of him ending up in an asylum.) Phoebe remains in bliss in her ignorance, but this is not to last. Though her kindness has a nice effect on Clifford. Interestingly, when Holgrave tells Phoebe about Hepzibah and Clifford, Phoebe gets cold feet and needs to get away for awhile. Well, in comes Jaffrey. He is after a will over land, Clifford may know something about it, and Hepzibah is frightened. In a surprise burst of strength, Clifford confronts Jaffrey and leaves with Hepzibah. (Dickens enjoyed giving his eccentrics sudden bursts of strength or a sudden show of virtue.) In yet another Dickens's technique, Hawthorne himself taunts Jaffrey with a fierece and driving narration. And using a Dickens's technique of irony, the document Jaffrey was searching for was worthless. (Greed and irony. 2 of Dickens's famous trademarks.) Moving on, the good Holgrave, Pheobe, Hepzibah, and Clifford are happily reunited. And not only that, but Hepzibah and Clifford come into money and are rich again. But that is not the end of it. Alice from chapter 13 finds peace. While Hawthorne's previous "Fanshawe" and "Scarlet Letter" ended on a depressing note, the "House of the Seven Gables" ends on a happy note. SIDE NOTE: If you are ever in Salem Massachusetts, make sure you see the House of the Seven Gables.

fabulous edition.......2006-03-17

Besides being a classic Hawthorne this is an exceptional edition because of the wonderful annotation.

Nathaniel Hawthorne : Collected Novels: Fanshawe, The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance, The Marble Faun (Library of America)

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Hawthorne the master of "the master" (Henry James)
From a high school English teacher's P.O.V.
The Scarlet Letter - should have been a short story
A Review of The Scarlet Letter
It was touching and really hit the spot!

Nathaniel Hawthorne : Collected Novels: Fanshawe, The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance, The Marble Faun (Library of America)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0940450089

Book Description

Here in one volume are all five of Nathaniel Hawthorne's world-famous novels. Written in a richly suggestive style that seems remarkably contemporary, they are permeated by America's and Hawthorne's own history. "The House of the Seven Gables" moves across 150 years from an ancestral crime condoned by the Puritan theocracy to a new beginning in the bustling and democratic Jacksonian era. Hawthorne's masterpiece, "The Scarlet Letter," is a dramatic allegory of the social consequences of adultery and the subversive force of personal desire in a community of laws. "The Blithedale Romance" explores the perils, which Hawthorne knew at first hand, of living in a utopian community, and the inextricability of political, personal, and sexual desires. "Fanshawe" is an engrossing apprentice work which Hawthorne published anonymously and later sought to suppress. "The Marble Faun," his last finished novel, involves mystery, murder, and romance among American artists in Rome.

Customer Reviews:

Hawthorne the master of "the master" (Henry James).......2006-11-24

I strongly agree with Richard's comments. Hawthorne should be read again and again throughout one's life. Even the great master of the novel, Henry James, found himself coming back time and again to Hawthorne as a touchstone of his creative imagination. We are fortunate to have dedicated teachers lead us through Hawthorne's work while we are teenagers, as adults we can read his work and appreciate it as a great work of art. Those who prefer to run through literature at a rapid pace would be better off staying with Marvel Comics. Library of America has provided a great service by publishing the Centenary Edition of Hawthorne in this beautiful edition. We are the better for it who can meditate deeply on the art and imagination of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

From a high school English teacher's P.O.V........2005-10-29

Please, whatever you do, don't categorize Hawthorne's (or any writer's) work as a long-winded relic from some gradeschool lit class. True, we English teachers are about the only folks left trying to keep this literature alive, but we do it because it's so worth preserving. I'll admit we do a disservice to Hawthorne by "forcing" young people to read it. Often a lack of maturity in the reader only translates to resentment for the writer, which in Hawthorne's case is a real shame. So you were "bored" by The Scarlet Letter when you were 15 years old... What a surprise... Has anything about you changed since then? Have you matured? Is there any possibility that you are more prepared today, as a thirty year old, to read, understand and appreciate Hawthorne's stories (and his brilliant style) than you were fifteen years ago? Give yourself some credit and give these great writers another try. You may be surprised at how deeply Hawthorne's insights into human nature cut after experiencing more of life yourself.

The Scarlet Letter - should have been a short story.......2004-12-29

I am going against the grain here but can anyone explain how this story can take so long to tell. Trying to enjoy the majority of American authors, Hawthornes works have not be an easy go. Though admittedly not a fan of Hawthornes full length works, his short stores can be enjoyable. But a book that begins with 28 pages of 'The Custom House', before the story even begins, is already very dull. I, like many other people, was forced to read this work for a sophomore literature class. That was 31 years ago and I still remember thinking what a moderately entertaining short story this would have made. In its form, its unbearable.

A Review of The Scarlet Letter.......2002-03-15

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, will intreset readers who like romance and drama. In this novel, not only does romance and drama appear, but questions of morals of the characters. Also, the novel discusses the consequences that the characters must go through for their bad choices and mistakes.
Pearl, the child of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, was born in jail, when her mother was sentenced for commiting adultury against her husband Roger Chillingworth. Due to her crime, Hester was sentenced to wearing a red scarlet letter A on her chest, and Raising an evil daughter, that refuses to follow the laws.
Pearl as well as the red scarlet letter A is a symbol of wrong doing. Pearl could be described as the scarlet letter in human form. She is a very important character in this novel, she is the person that allows the story to continue. Pearl goes through her life, everyone looking down on her for her parents' crime. The very crime that pushes her father overboard.
Arthur Dimmesdale kept the secret that he was Pearl's father. He didn't want people to know of his sin because he was supposed to be a holy man. The fact that he didn't tell the truth to people, ate him up inside. Finally Dimmesdale admitted to his sin, and thgen died. His part of the story was very real, because if someone keeps a secret for so long they can just burst.
All the events that take place in the novel relate in some manner. Which ends up linking all of the characters together. Hawthorne does a good job of making his characters feel the pain of their mistakes. Each character is trying to overcome their past. Some due to sin, others due to jealousy, and to hatred.
As a result of his jealousy against Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, Hester's ex-husband, ends up having a miserable, torturous life. Chillingworth hates the thought that his wife could have had an affair with Dimmesdale. Then when Arthur Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth's life also ends, because he cannot destroy his enemy's life anymore.
In addition to Chillingworth's jealousy and hatred for Dimmesdale, there is also Pearl's hatred for her parents. Pearl hates being blamed for her parents' crime, which leads to her hating them. People looked at Pearl the same way they looked at the scarlet letter, a reminder of adultury and sin against the Puritain faith. Hawthorne was able to link all his characters together with all the events that were taking place in the story.
This novel can affect the reader's emotions and fellings. One minute leaving the reader feel bad for one of the characters, and the next hating them, because of something they did. If a reader finds suspense, romance, and emotional ups and downs interesting they should read this book. However, it might not be recommended for younger readers because, it can be a little hard to follow at sometimes, but overall it is a good book.

It was touching and really hit the spot!.......1999-04-30

I love all of Hawthorne's books but this one was his all time best

The Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne: The House of the Seven Gables/the Scarlet Letter/Twice-Told Tales

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The Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne: The House of the Seven Gables/the Scarlet Letter/Twice-Told Tales
Nathaniel Hawthorne , Lori Deitrick , and David Deitrick
Manufacturer: Longmeadow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The House of the Seven Gables (Unabridged Classics)

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The House of the Seven Gables (Unabridged Classics)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Manufacturer: Tantor Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Book Description

When it was first erected, the House of Seven Gables typified the mechanical Colonel Pyncheon; but it developed through the years until, by Hepzibah's time, it has become humanized and almost organic. The history of the house is thus a record of continuity and change. Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables is a study of guilt and renewal from generation to generation. At the time of the Salem witch trials, the patriarch of the Pyncheons covets the property of a tradesman and manipulates public opinion so as to get Matthew Maule hanged for witchcraft and acquire the land. The dying man's curse on the Pyncheon family comes true generation upon generation and relationships between the families are colored forever by this "original sin." That is, until six generations later when the long-hidden truth is revealed.
The House of the Seven Gables is Hawthorne's most humorous novel, it is also the work in which he is most serious in his devotion to the powers of beauty and imagination and his hatred of economic materialism and Philistinism.

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The House of the Seven Gables
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Manufacturer: Waking Lion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

The wealthy Colonel Pyncheon covets the carpenter Mathew Maule’s land. A few years later, during the witch hysteria in Salem, Maule is brought before a judge on witchcraft charges and is sentenced to death. Before his execution, Maule curses the Pyncheon family. The Colonel, undaunted, continues to build an extravagant house on Maule’s property. After the house is finished, however, the Colonel is found dead, and the property deed is missing. More than 200 years later, we meet the family in its decaying, gabled mansion, still haunted by the presence of dead ancestors: Hepzibah, an elderly gentlewoman fallen on hard times; her ineffectual brother, Clifford; and young Phoebe, a country maiden who cheerfully takes it upon herself to care for her two doddering relations. There's also Holgrave, a free-spirited daguerreotypist, who makes a surprising transformation into conventional respectability. Hawthorne's masterful tales describe the brooding hold of the past over the present, twisting and turning through many generations of a venerable New England family. A true classic of American literature. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

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Spark Notes The House of Seven Gables
Nathaniel Hawthorne , and SparkNotes Editors
Manufacturer: SparkNotes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1586636715

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Get your "A" in gear!

They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:

· They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.
· They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.
· The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.

And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

The House of the Seven Gables (Cliffs Notes)

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Absolutely Essential

The House of the Seven Gables (Cliffs Notes)
Darlene Bennett Morris
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822005956

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The House of Seven Gables helps you explore this tale of a family curse and inherited sin. Once wealthy and now in a state of constant degeneration, both the Maule family and their grand mansion fall to the forces of society and mystery. They can escape from the bondage which the past imposes, but how?

This concise supplement to Hawthorne's The House of Seven Gables, helps you understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. Features that help you study include

Chapter-by-chapter summaries and commentaries
A chronology of the author's life offers insight into his writing style
Descriptive character analyses
Critical essays on the Preface to the novel and on Hawthorne's use of symbols
A review section that tests your knowledge, and suggested essay topics

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Essential.......2002-10-09

This little Cliffsnotes book absolutely saved my live in high school, when I was forced to write a term paper about this boring, plodding, stupefying, over-written, under-communicated, turgid, nauseating, putrid novel by Nate Hawthorne.

Book Description

The tale of a cursed house with a "mysterious and terrible past" and the generations linked to it. First published in 1851, The House of Seven Gables is Hawthorne's chronicle of the Maule and Pyncheon families over two centuries.

Customer Reviews:

American Gothic.......2005-12-15

This is a thick, solid tale, build on century-old foundations of wizardry and betrayals, of greed and disintegration, many woes spread deep into the mortar of the crumbling mansion known as the House of the Seven Gables. Nathaniel Hawthorne puts the roots deep into the Earth, rendering an inescapable pollution that holds a withered family prisoner to its ancient curse.

A puritan novel, on the surface "House of the Seven Gables" is about an old spinster, her ruined brother, a young girl as bright as sunshine, and the wealthy, amiable cousin with a dark secret. These four members of the Pyncheon family have inherited the curse of their family line, brought about over 150 years ago when Colonel Pyncheon tried and executed the wizard Matthew Maule for witchcraft, then built his family dwelling on the good Earth where the wizard's house once stood. Maule's final words, a curse for the family, they would "Have blood to drink."

Deeper, and more correctly, the story is about the house itself. Hawthorne spends more time leading readers through its dark hallways, ruined garden, shadow-haunted rooms and the polluted stench of Maule's Well, then on the story of the relatives and their struggles. Several chapters are descriptive in nature, setting the stage and establishing the atmosphere on which the players take their turns. A complete, and fully realized setting emerges, one that captivates as much as the people themselves.

In some ways a ghost story, as ancient specters certainly haunt the fading homestead. Ghosts locked in a battle between Pyncheon and Maule. However, the spirits are not overt, and can neither be seen by nor affect the modern world. They are frustrated and handicapped by their dead state, only observers as the darkness drags deeper and deeper.

I completely loved "House of the Seven Gables." It can be an intimidating read, and commands your full attention for each loving word. An immense gothic tale, there always seems to be something waiting to be unearthed, something more secretive and influential hiding behind the cover story. And there is.

The Scarlet Letter and the House of the Seven Gables (The Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne)

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The Scarlet Letter and the House of the Seven Gables (The Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Manufacturer: Thomas Y. Crowell & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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