Stories of Cape Cod

A vivid portrait of Cape Cod’s early ambition unfolds through the tale of its most daring engineering feat. The narrative traces Myles Standish’s 1624 sketch of a shortcut through the peninsula, the centuries‑long delay, and the eventual triumph of August Belmont’s massive 1909‑1914 project. Along the way, readers meet the skeptical engineers, the 500 Italian laborers who hauled earth by shovels, and the strategic eyes of George Washington, all while learning how the canal turned a treacherous stretch of fog‑laden coast into a safer corridor for commerce and war.

The book then shifts to the gentle charm of Sandwich, the first settlement on the Cape, celebrated by 19th‑century actor Joseph Jefferson as “the handsomest town out of England.” Lush, shaded streets and historic homes give the town a nostalgic feel, while the replica Aptucxet trading post anchors the story in the Pilgrims’ original trade with New York. Together, these snapshots weave history, engineering, and everyday life into a rich, accessible listening experience.