In Chapter 2 of The House of the Seven Gables, entitled, “The Little Shop-Window,” we delve deeper into the solitary world of Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon, as she reluctantly prepares to open her cent-shop, an act of sheer desperation after twenty-five years of seclusion. This chapter captures the profound inner conflict of Hepzibah, a woman of "old Gentility" forced by poverty to engage with the world she has long avoided. Her famous scowl, often mistaken for ill-temper by the townspeople, is in fact a result of her nearsightedness, underscoring how outward appearances can belie a "tender, sensitive" heart. This poignant moment of a born lady stepping down from her "pedestal of imaginary rank" to become a "plebeian woman" is a central theme of decaying gentility. Interestingly, Hepzibah's deep reluctance to open her shop mirrors the author Nathaniel Hawthorne's own angst about publishing his written works, suggesting a parallel between the character's struggle for survival and the author's creative anxieties. As she stocks her shelves with humble goods, from gingerbread figures to barrels of flour, Hepzibah weeps, acknowledging the end of an era and the beginning of a life she never imagined.
Credits
Narrated and Produced by Gizelle Erickson

Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn

Music:

Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music" Music by Dmitry Taras from Pixabay

Thanks to The_Mountain "Horror Piano Darkness" Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

WELCOME TO FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHT AT 1001!

Hello, fellow seekers of the strange and the spine-chilling! Are you ready to pull back the curtain on a truly ghastly classic tale? Today we delve into the haunting origins of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s "The House of the Seven Gables," where history itself is soaked in dread. Chapter 1 opens with a rusty wooden mansion in New England, its gables pointed like accusatory fingers towards a sky that has witnessed centuries of human folly and shadowed secrets. We begin not with a happy start, but with a vindictive curse. This isn't just a story; it's a legacy of misfortune, where a stately home rises over an unquiet grave, and Death itself steps across the threshold on the very day of its consecration, leaving behind a chilling mystery of blood-soaked ruffs and unanswered questions. Join us for the sophisticated, atmospheric journey into the dark heart of a family tormented by its past.

Sponsor Tags
Sponsor Intro 30:40

Show Re-entry 30:45
Credits
Narrated and Produced by Gizelle Erickson

Executive Production: Jon Hagadorn

Music & Effects:

Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music" Music by Dmitry Taras from Pixabay

Thanks to The_Mountain "Horror Piano Darkness" Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

Thanks to NikitaKondrashev, "Horror Ambient Background" Music by Nikita Kondrashev from Pixabay

It's "Back to School" time for Anne Shirley of Green Gables- as well as your kids and neighbor's kids-Coming Sunday Aug 10 (tomorrow as I write this) at noon EDT -Chapter 1 of the 3rd 'Anne of Green Gables' story- called 'Anne of the Island'- narrated by Gizelle Erickson- who is introducing herself soon over at 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age. Its a combination romance/adventure/coming of age story that will take you back to a simpler time!

Join us at 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age

Apple Users: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-stories-from-the-gilded-age/id1485751552

Spotify" https://open.spotify.com/show/5sUUFDVTatnGt7FiNQvSHe

Website ( and ALL our Anne stories) at 1001 Stories from The Gilded Age: www.bestof1001stories.com