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The House of the Seven Gables

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851

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Book Brief

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Nathaniel Hawthorne

The House of the Seven Gables

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851
Book Details
Pages

225

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Massachusetts • 19th century

Publication Year

1851

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne follows the Pyncheon family as they grapple with their ancestor's dark legacy, featuring a cursed New England mansion. In 1692, Colonel Pyncheon falsely accuses Matthew Maule of witchcraft to seize Maule's land, leading to a lasting curse. Over the centuries, the Pyncheons' fortunes decline, entangled with themes of family, guilt, and redemption.

Mysterious

Dark

Melancholic

Contemplative

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

3.9

40,902 ratings

49%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables is celebrated for its gothic atmosphere and intricate depiction of family curses and moral dilemmas, resonating with historic and symbolic depth. Critics commend its vivid narrative and pioneering psychological insight, yet some find the pacing slow and descriptions overly elaborate. Overall, it's a thought-provoking classic.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The House of the Seven Gables?

Readers who relish Gothic fiction, American history, and complex family sagas will enjoy Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables. Fans of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne himself will be captivated by its dark atmosphere, rich symbolism, and intriguing character studies.

3.9

40,902 ratings

49%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

225

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Massachusetts • 19th century

Publication Year

1851

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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