Sketches from Concord and Appledore Concord thirty years ago; Nathaniel Hawthorne; Louisa M. Alcott; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Matthew Arnold; David A. Wasson; Wendell Phillips; Appledore and its visitors; John Greenleaf Whittier

A vivid portrait of New England’s literary heart, this collection invites listeners to wander the quiet streets of Concord as they were thirty years ago, when the town still bore the modest charm of a rural village. The author blends travelogue with history, sketching the landscape that once cradled the first battles for independence and later nurtured a remarkable circle of writers, thinkers, and reformers.

Through concise, intimate sketches, the book brings to life figures such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and John Greenleaf Whittier, while also shining a fresh light on the less‑celebrated David A. Wasson and the often‑misunderstood Wendell Phillips. Each portrait is paired with period illustrations that echo the era’s visual texture, creating a layered sense of place and personality.

The narrative voice is both scholarly and conversational, making the listener feel as though they are sharing a quiet tea in a historic parlor. It’s an invitation to rediscover the people and the peaceful yet spirited atmosphere that made Concord a cradle of American letters.