The House of the Seven Gables

Book Description

2 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  I think this book is overlooked by many. Instead, it's just amazing! The way Hawthorne describes scenes, places and people, the incredible wit and sharpness in his observations, the way he sometimes lingers for pages on a single scene to involve us in the macabre, chilling stillness of it, or to sim ... (continue)

  I think this book is overlooked by many. Instead, it's just amazing! The way Hawthorne describes scenes, places and people, the incredible wit and sharpness in his observations, the way he sometimes lingers for pages on a single scene to involve us in the macabre, chilling stillness of it, or to simply mock a character- is amazing. The characters are so hopeless, gloomy, forlorn, and yet so alive and heroic. I still think of poor old Hepzibah with affection, and I kind of miss her. Highly recommended. I wish I could go see the real house in Salem, which belonged to Hawthorne's relatives, and had only four gables at his time. The seven gables were added back in early 20th century when the house was turned into a museum, and even a cent-shop like the one run by Hepzibah in the novel was built.

  Is this helpful?

  Valeria said on Mar 3, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  A time capsule

  Wordy, pedantic, familial soap-opera... yes, yes, and yes.

  As much is made of Hawthorne's mastery of the English language, his style doesn't translate to the modern reader terribly well in The House of the Seven Gables. Many reviews here criticize the slow-moving story line, frequent digress ... (continue)

  Wordy, pedantic, familial soap-opera... yes, yes, and yes.

  As much is made of Hawthorne's mastery of the English language, his style doesn't translate to the modern reader terribly well in The House of the Seven Gables. Many reviews here criticize the slow-moving story line, frequent digressions, and over-abundance of adjectives. Be that as it may, it's a wonderful period view of New England society. I, too, found the first half to be difficult going much of the way, but the detailed snapshot of life in the mid-19th century kept me going.

  It's not a horror story, it's a time capsule.

  Is this helpful?

  Andyberschauer said on Oct 27, 2009 | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (25)
  • 5 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 2 stars
  • 1 star
• English Books
• Hardcover 420 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0814200605
• ISBN-13: 9780814200605
• Publisher: Ohio State University Press
• Pub date: Jun 01, 1965
• Also available as: Mass Market Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, Library Binding, School & Library Binding, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Deutsche Bücher, Libros en Español, Livros em Português, Libri Italiani

Prices Change currency & sellers