A Book-Lover's Guide To Boston
- Helen
- Apr 21, 2019
- 7 min read
Boston in America is a book lover's paradise.
Yes, the city is rich in American history, but as well as being the heart of the American Revolution, Boston has a history rich in literature too.
Boston was the home to so many great writers that in the mid 19th century it was nicknamed, 'the Athens of America'.
Boston writers of this time included Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Henry James, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and many more!
Since the 19th century, Boston has continued to produce and be home to other great literary figures.
As a result of it's literary history there is much to see and do in Boston today if you are a lover of books and literature...
From bookstore gems, historic libraries and other fun sights with literary significance, Boston offers a book-lover many ways to spend a happy hour!
Top Spots For Book-Lovers To Visit In Boston
To begin, let's cover some of the great bookstores I found on my travels around the city...
Brattle Book Shop
Located in the heart of Boston, Brattle Book Shop dates from 1825 and today is one of the largest antiquarian book shops in the United States.
Offering used and out of print books in every category imaginable, the store also has a room on the top floor of rare books including first editions, collectables and fine leather bound titles.
Brattle Book Shop also has a large outdoor area of used books at a good price where passersby and loyal customers peruse.
Brattle Book Shop is definitely well worth a visit. There is plenty to browse throughout the store and the large yellow pencil shop sign is eye-catching and fun!
Harvard Book Store
Opposite Harvard Yard and University you will find this independent bookstore selling new and used books.
Harvard Book Store has been located in Cambridge since 1932 and originally opened to sell used textbooks to students.
Despite being completely independent of Harvard University, the book store does have an academic focus, alongside more generic and other specialist materials.
The store has a friendly and personal feel and also offers wide gift and children's sections.
Regular author events are held at Harvard Book Store with appearances of best selling international authors (past authors include Stephen King, Salman Rushdie and Al Gore) as well as talks and book signings by local writers.
Harvard Co-op Bookstore
The second bookstore worth visiting when in Harvard Square and with a very different feel to Harvard Book Store (above) is the Harvard Co-op Bookstore.
This is a large book shop serving the university students (and public) for many years.
The Harvard Co-op started as a co-operative in a student dorm in 1882. As the store's popularity and customer base grew, the store moved location and found it's current home in Harvard Square in 1906.
The store is large with 4 floors covering books on every subject imaginable. There are quiet seating areas and a good coffee shop also located within.
Regular events and talks are also held here.
Despite feeling large and grand, the Harvard Co-op is also welcoming and a place I could spend many hours browsing, drinking coffee and leafing through their books.
Porter Square Books
Just a short distance from Harvard Square, in Cambridge, is a bright and modern book shop tucked away in the suburbs!
Porter Square Books is a great book shop selling new books, cards and stationary.
A definite additional selling point to Porter Square is that they also have a coffee bar and seating. There were several people enjoying coffee, reading or chatting with friends in this cool, relaxed and warm setting which truly felt a part of the 'real, local' Boston.
A store with a truly friendly vibe!
Alongside the store, the shop also offer regular book club events, entertainment for children and general readings with book signings.
Old Corner Bookstore
Sadly no longer a bookstore as the building is now used commercially as a Mexican fast food restaurant, the building that once housed the Old Corner Bookstore still features on the Boston Freedom Trail and is worth taking note of (find out more about the Freedom Trail in my post on free things to do in Boston!).
Found on the corner of Washington Street in Downtown Boston, the building here, built in 1718, was once a vital publishing house.
During the 19th Century classical works by great authors such as Hawthorne, Longfellow and Thoreau were published here.
Commonwealth Books
Located in the heart of Boston along the Freedom Trail route (but not part of the Freedom Trail), Commonwealth Books is an independent bookshop offering over 50,000 titles from every genre, fact and fiction, covering 500 years of literary history.
Jam packed from floor to ceiling with offerings, the feel of the shop is cosy and friendly, certainly offering something for anyone!
As well as books, Commonwealth Books stocks old prints and engravings dating from the 1600 to 1940s, antique maps and more.
Commonwealth is also a publisher, publishing poetry and translated works under the name, 'Black Widow Press'.
A hidden gem worth seeking out - this old style store has real character and charm!
Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Boston's trendy shopping quarter - Newbury Street, with it's brownstone buildings and boutique stores is also home to Trident Booksellers and Cafe.
This is a truly unique store - a bookshop, a cafe, a restaurant... A place to read, meet friends, study, eat or attend events (perhaps all the above), rolled into one great shop.
Events are held at Trident most evenings, including book signings, book clubs, readings, trivia nights and karaoke.
The store sells a wide selection of books and magazines, also specialising in independent books by local authors, as well as other stocking stationary and gifty goods...
Definitely recommended as a place to browse, read or just chillax for a while!
Brookline Booksmith
A little further out of Boston's central area is this independent bookstore found in Brookline, to the west side of the city.
Another great independent bookstore to visit... The ground floor sells new books, children's books, gifts and stationary while the basement houses a large area of second hand books. The store here will also buy used books from customers to sell on.
Unlike some of the other bookstores in this list, Brookline Booksmiths does not have a coffee shop but there is a Starbucks right next door and other good coffee places along the same street.
Brookline was certainly a very friendly shop to visit, colourful and fun and they also hold regular book readings and other events worth checking out.
Alongside some of these great bookstores in Boston to visit, there are also several other key locations to check out if you are a book lover!
Boston Public Library
The public library in Boston was the first library that opened to the general public in the United States, founded as it was in 1848.
The central library is located at Copley Square in central Boston and is a vast building with fascinating history, art and architecture, alongside being home to millions (literally) of books, including rare books and manuscripts.
You can tour the public library (which I highly recommend - see my post of free things to do in Boston for more about this).
Boston's Public Library is not to be missed if you are even vaguely interested in books or literature!
Boston Athenaeum
Centrally located in downtown Boston, the Athenaeum first opened in 1807 as a reading room. Boston Athenaeum is now one of oldest independent libraries in the USA and has been in it's current historic building since 1849.
To be a member of the library here, an annual fee is paid, although general members of the public are able to visit the building during public hours, at a charge.
The Athenaeum's collection includes over half a million titles, including some very rare books and manuscripts.
The library also has changing exhibitions and a programme of lectures, concerts and other events.
To really get the most out of a visit to the Athenaeum, there are guided tours available, highlighting the building's impressive art and architecture, alongside information about some of the rare collections held here.
**Visitors entry is usually $10, but free on the second Saturday of each month.
Omni Parker House Hotel
This luxury hotel in downtown Boston, Omni Parker House, was once the setting for the 'Saturday Club' - a 19th century club that met one Saturday a month.
Among the members of this prestigious club were authors including Emerson, Thoreau, Longfellow and Hawthorne.
In 1867-68 Charles Dickens also resided in some rooms at Omni Parker House and first recited, 'A Christmas Carol' for the Saturday Club at this time.
Worth a quick visit to take in a venue with such a strong literary history!
***A quick side note - Omni Parker House Hotel is also where Boston Cream Pie was invented!!
Longfellow House
A slightly different site to visit on this list of top spots in Boston for book-lovers is Longfellow House.
This residential home, found very close to Harvard University was once home to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for over 45 years of his life, with his wife (before her early death) and children.
Longfellow was America's first professional poet and key in helping poetry become considered a respectable form of writing. At Longfellow House, Longfellow produced much of his well loved works.
Prior to the house being the home of Herny Longfellow, it was also used for a short time as the headquarters for George Washington - so a building with considerable history!
The house and gardens are now open to the public and worth visiting.
Make Way for Ducklings Bronze Statues
The final spot not to miss if you are a book lover in Boston, are the bronze statues of the little ducks, Make Way For Ducklings.
These fun statues of a mother duck leading her ducklings through the common in Boston will make you smile whether you are young or old!.
These quirky characters were placed here in tribute to the award winning children's picture book, Make Way For Ducklings, published first in 1941 and written by Robert McCloskey. The book tells the story of a pair of mallards who raise their family on an island in the lagoon of Boston Public Garden. Today, the book remains an international best-seller and the bronze ducks, created by Nancy Schön 30 years ago are now an icon of Boston, so not to be missed!!
And so ends this list of the top spots to visit in Boston if you are a book-lover...
For many other literary hot-spots in Boston, check out the website of the Boston Literary District that has a map and details of every home, statue or other significant part of the city that relates to Boston's literary history.
Plus, if you are going to be visiting Boston, then have a read of my post on Free Things To Do In Boston!
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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