Colonel Pyncheon does well in denouncing Old Matthew: he founds a New England dynasty and builds a remarkable mansion; but on its opening day he is found dead, slaked in his own blood. By 1840, that dynasty is almost spent; amid the dust and decay of the Seven Gables, Clifford and Hepzibah believe in their own continued nobility as much as they believe in the mysterious curse still tracking the Pyncheons. After 30 years in prison for a murder he did...

Alice falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters. She has a series of adventures as she daringly follows the White Rabbit. She meets the grinning Cheshire Cat and has tea with the Mad Hatter. She avoids losing her head and then plays croquet using a flamingo as a mallet. Finally, the ugly duchess, the quarrelsome queen and the hookah-smoking caterpillar all make Alice's day one she will never forget.