"The Ambitious Guest" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

"The Ambitious Guest" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Based upon the real-life 1826 tragedy of the Willey Family, "The Ambitious Guest" was published in June, 1835 in 'The New England Magazine'. In 1841, it was re-published in 'Twice-Told Tales', Vol. II. The real-life Willey Family Tragedy: Samuel Willey, his wife, five children, and two farm hands lived in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. Located in the Notch, surrounded by mountains, the Willey's house served as an Inn for travelers passing through the desolate valley. One night, following heavy rain storms and flooding in the valley, the mountain gave way, crashing down. Hearing the slide, the family ran from the house seeking safety in a cave they have previously built for such a threat. They were too late and were all buried by the slide. The house survived, untouched. This reading is presented by the Barrow Bookstore, located in historic Concord, Massachusetts, home of the Authors. 79 Main Street Concord, Massachusetts, 01742 www.barrowbookstore.com   / barrowbookstore   tune: "The Little Cascade", composed by Pipe Major George S. McLennan.