Whittier-land A Handbook of North Essex, Containing Many Anecdotes of and Poems by John Greenleaf Whittier Never Before Collected.

Step into the gentle hills and river valleys of North Essex as they once lived in the mind of the poet whose verses still echo there. This compact guide walks listeners through the birth‑place, the schoolyard, and the winding country lanes that inspired Whittier’s beloved ballads, while an illustrated map helps picture every turn. Interwoven with vivid descriptions are dozens of short, previously unpublished poems that capture the farmer‑son’s early humor, loves, and quiet observations.

Beyond the geography, the book shares lively anecdotes from friends and neighbors, revealing a playful side of the poet that rarely appears in formal biographies. Listeners will hear the same stories that once circled the hearths of Haverhill and Amesbury, accompanied by verses written for private circles yet now shining in full view. The result is a warm, intimate portrait of a landscape and a literary spirit that still invites curious travelers to linger a while.