The story takes place on the rapidly advancing frontier of New York State and features an elderly Leatherstocking, Judge Marmaduke Temple of Templeton, whose life parallels that of the author's father Judge William Cooper, and Elizabeth Temple of the fictional Templeton, New York.
The story tells of how Prince Gregor, and his hero, the daring Winfried of England, journey through treacherous land to reach the heathen people of the forest on Christmas eve.
Carol Bird, a Christmas-born child, who as a young girl is unusually loving and generous, having a positive effect on everyone with whom she comes into contact.
The novel follows the lives of four sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March - and is loosely based on the author's childhood experiences with her three sisters.
In a shabby New York side street in the mid-1880s, young American Cedric Errol lives with his mother in genteel poverty after his father, Captain Errol dies.
The book mostly follows the lives of Plumfield boys who were introduced in Little Men, particularly Tommy, Demi, Nat, Dan, and Emil and Jo's sons Rob and Teddy, although Franz, Nan, Daisy, Dolly, and Stuffy make frequent appearances as well.
The house of the title is a gloomy New England mansion, haunted from its foundation by fraudulent dealings, accusations of witchcraft, and sudden death.
