This novel is a multi-generational epic that follows the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families in the Salinas Valley in California. The story is deeply rooted in biblical allegory, particularly the tale of Cain and Abel, as it explores themes of love, guilt, freedom, and the inherent good and evil in human nature. The narrative provides a profound, complex portrayal of family and individual struggles with morality and love, while also reflecting on the social changes affecting America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This novel revolves around the cursed Pyncheon family, who live in a gloomy New England mansion, cursed due to the actions of their ancestor who had an innocent man hanged as a witch to seize his property. The story explores themes of guilt, retribution, and atonement, and the narrative is interspersed with the author's philosophical musings. The present-day Pyncheons include an old maid, a daguerreotypist, and their elderly, reclusive cousin who returns to the house after a mysterious absence of many years.

"Pembroke" is a 19th-century novel that explores the themes of love, pride, and social expectations in a small New England town. The story centers around a young couple whose plans to marry are thwarted by a dispute over a trivial matter, leading to a stubborn standoff that spans years. As the narrative unfolds, the characters' lives are deeply affected by their decisions and the rigid moral codes of their community. The novel delves into the complexities of human relationships, the consequences of pride, and the struggle between personal happiness and societal pressures.

The novel explores the life of Cleo Judson, a Southern-born African American woman living in early 20th century Boston, who navigates the complexities of race, class, and society as she strives to create a facade of affluence and respectability. Married to a successful businessman, Cleo manipulates those around her to reunite with her estranged sisters and recreate the familial bonds and social standing she longs for. However, her scheming and pursuit of superficial success reveal the deep-seated insecurities and the cost of her ambitions, as she grapples with the true meaning of family and identity amidst the backdrop of the African American upper class.

The novel is a reflective account of the life of Harry Pulham, a middle-aged, conventional Bostonian who is prompted to examine his past and the choices he has made during the process of writing a Harvard class reunion biography. As he delves into his memories, he confronts his youthful ambitions, his experiences in World War I, and his complex relationships, particularly with a vivacious woman who challenged the conservative values of his upbringing. Through this introspection, Harry grapples with the realization that he has conformed to societal expectations at the expense of his own happiness, leading to a poignant exploration of the conflict between individual desires and societal pressures in early 20th-century America.

"The Late George Apley" is a satirical novel that presents a critical view of the upper class society in Boston during the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds through a series of letters, diary entries, and other documents, chronicling the life of George Apley, a wealthy Bostonian. The book explores Apley's struggles to uphold the traditions and social norms of his class, despite the rapidly changing world around him. The story provides a nuanced portrayal of the protagonist's life, highlighting the constraints and pressures of conforming to societal expectations.

"Bowlaway" is a multi-generational saga that revolves around a bowling alley in a small New England town. The story begins with the mysterious arrival of a woman who establishes the bowling alley, and her subsequent death sets off a chain of events that impacts the town and its residents for decades to come. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the complex dynamics of family relationships, all against the backdrop of the bowling alley that serves as a communal hub for the town.

"March" is a novel that tells the story of Mr. March, the absent father from Louisa May Alcott's classic novel "Little Women," during his time serving as a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War. The book explores themes of war, slavery, and moral conflict as Mr. March's ideals are tested and he grapples with the harsh realities of war and the human capacity for cruelty. His experiences profoundly affect him, changing his worldview and shaping the man that returns to his family.