The House of the Seven Gables (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

First: what a fabulous title! I don’t know what it is about it… so intriguing and mysterious.This definitely isn’t the kind of story I would have picked up on my own, though. My husband read and loved it, but it’s a ghost story which isn’t my usual fare. When we traveled through Salem recently, we almost toured the House of the Seven Gables, though–and I thought I would read the book beforehand so that I’d have some context. We didn’t end up going and I didn’t get to the book until after we’d come back home anyway, but it was still October and a ghost story seemed appropriate, so I gave it a shot. Frank had warned me that it started off very slow, but the prose was so beautiful that somehow he didn’t mind. I felt the same way, though since a good half to 3/4 of the book was just character building, it did get a bit long even then.The “prologue” begins at the time of the Salem Witch Trials, when one of the judges, Judge Pinchon, condemns one of the victims, Matthew Maule, because he covets his property. (This reminded me of King Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings.) Just before he hangs, Maule pronounces a blood curse upon Pinchon and his entire family line, that he will “have blood to drink.” Later, the judge hires one of Maule’s relatives as his architect to construct the House of the Seven Gables on the Maule property, ironically enough… and no sooner is it finished, then the judge is found dead, having apparently very literally choked upon his own blood in a strange respiratory illness.Fast-forward through the centuries to the last of the Pinchon line. Hepzibah and her brother Clifford are sympathetic and down-and-out characters, but their cousin Jeffrey is also a judge, and the spitting image of the one who condemned old Maule. Jeffrey sent Clifford to prison in order to protect himself from taking blame for a crime that he in fact committed, and all but destroyed Clifford’s sanity, while Jeffrey himself rose to prominence, wealth, and esteem. Meanwhile, another young cousin, Phoebe, comes to stay with Hepzibah and Clifford, and a daguerreotypist comes to visit as well, and tells Phoebe the history of the old home. He turns out to be a descendant of Maule, himself.While there are no overt ghosts in the tale, the implication of a spiritual force of “karma” is strongly implied. The story is not so much grim as just atmospheric, and it does end happily, against all odds.My rating: ****Language: noneSexual content: noneViolence: not exactly present, though there is a bit of gorePolitical content: none (historical)

I became interested in this novel when my wife learned that she is a direct relative of the man who owned the house which inspired Hawthorne to write this book.I was not disappointed with the novel and I quite enjoyed the dark and mysterious tone to it. Perhaps the modern reader won't have the patience to wade through Hawthorne's meandering prose. I admit that this book takes patience but look beyond and you'll recogize the beautiful elements that make it a classic in American literature. In a historical context, his writing is crisp and evocative as he hangs on to the romantic elements in literature. I realized while reading the book that the enjoyment is not to race to the end and see what happens but rather to enjoy the flowery prose and sensorial descriptions. The story is quite simple but involves multiple generations of a family doomed by a suspicious curse flung at them by the disguntled landowner of the plot on which the famous house with the seven gables was built. The "Deus ex machina" ending seems hokey to modern readers but in 19th century literature was virtually expected and highly appreciated. If you're willing to take the time to appreciate this novel, then I recommend it to you.

A brilliant take on humanity. Character studies and words used opened up the heart of the story. Unique and fascinating

I wanted to read The House of Seven Gables before our planned visit to Salem this summer. It was a tedious reading for me and a bit rambling. I’m hoping the house tour explains things the book was somewhat vague on.

This is a wonderful book and one of my favorites. The evils of greed are a message for our times. I sometimes think of the impoverished Hepzibah asking the elderly, wealthy Judge why he needed more money. Just like politicians and the super wealthy who never seem to have enough while so many suffer.

I had gone too the house of seven gables and decided to buy the book on amazon as it was cheaper. In the beginning of the book it has a lot of big words but stick with it. But stick with it. It gets better. Aroundpage 125 too 128 is a surprise too it.

Is what I wanted

It took a long time to reach the point of the story. Past, present and dead characters...too many to follow. I enjoyed the ending but just took too long to get there.

Parece un libro muy interesante, tiene la letra pequeña. En unos meses lo leere cuando me lo digan en la universidad.

It's certainly not for everyone but I think it's great. I need it for study and I enjoyed reading it.

A gift for my auntie, she was very happy with it. A reasonable price, good quality and reasonable postage x

A strange house, strange people, a strange story.