The House of the Seven Gables (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)

Haunted since its construction by fraudulent dealings, accusations of witchcraft, and sudden death, the House of the Seven Gables is now home to shop-keeper Hepzibah Pyncheon and her brother Clifford, who has just completed a thirty-year sentence for murder. Their wealthy but unpleasant cousin, Judge Pyncheon, arrives for a visit, hoping to find the deed to the house, but his plans fall apart when someone is murdered.

The House of the Seven Gables is a Gothic novel written in the mid-1850s. Hawthorne explores themes of guilt, retribution, and atonement, and colors the tale with suggestions of the supernatural and witchcraft. The book was well received upon publication and later had a strong influence on the work of H. P. Lovecraft. It has been adapted several times for film and television.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

About the Author
Hawthorne, Nathaniel: - Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, the only judge involved in the Salem witch trials who never repented of his actions. He entered Bowdoin College in 1821, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1824, and graduated in 1825. Hawthorne published his first work in 1828, the novel Fanshawe; he later tried to suppress it, feeling that it was not equal to the standard of his later work. He published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. The next year, he became engaged to Sophia Peabody. He worked at the Boston Custom House and joined Brook Farm, a transcendentalist community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment as consul took Hawthorne and family to Europe before their return to Concord in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, and was survived by his wife and their three children. Much of Hawthorne's writing centers on New England, many works featuring moral metaphors with an anti-Puritan inspiration. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and a biography of his college friend Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States.