55 pages • 1 hour read
Nathaniel HawthorneThe House of the Seven Gables
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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 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.