'House with the Green Shutters' Summary

John Gourlay, a hardworking and fiercely independent carrier, lives a solitary life in the small, gossipy village of Barbie. He is ostracized by the villagers, who view him with a mixture of envy and disdain. They gossip about his wealth and his relationship with his wife, Janet, and their resentment towards him grows. John, in turn, remains aloof and disdainful of the villagers, refusing to engage with their petty dramas. His isolation deepens, and the tension between him and the village escalates. As the narrative unfolds, John's pride and stubbornness become increasingly destructive. His relationships with his wife and his daughter become strained, and his actions lead to a tragic climax that leaves the community reeling. Brown uses his characters to explore the dark side of human nature, exposing the destructive power of envy, gossip, and social class. The novel's bleak and unflinching portrayal of the villagers' moral decay and the consequences of their actions serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human relationships and the destructive potential of prejudice and resentment.