The William Munroe Special Collections at the Concord Free Public Library has recently expanded one of the nation’s most significant archives devoted to Louisa May Alcott and her remarkable family. With the acquisition of several newly discovered letters by Alcott and two important collections assembled over decades, the Library has added new layers of insight into the life, work, and legacy of the author of Little Women.
This year marks the 85th Annual Gathering of the Thoreau Society—the oldest and largest community devoted to an American author. Founded in 1941 by Walter Harding, the Society began with a simple invitation to a “Thoreau Birthday Mecca”: meet at Walden Pond, share lunch at Concord’s Colonial Inn, and talk about forming a group devoted to Henry David Thoreau.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU, a new, three-part, three-hour film examines the life and work of Concord’s 19th-century writer in the context of antebellum New England and the larger United States, as well as through the universal themes he focused on in his writings: an individual’s relationship to the state, how to live an authentic life, our connection to nature, and the impact of race on American life. Ultimately, HENRY DAVID THOREAU presents a portrait of a man both rooted in his time and speaking far beyond it. By placing his life and writings within the great moral struggles of the 19th century, the film underscores why Thoreau endures as a guide to the tensions and possibilities of American democracy—offering wisdom and provocation as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
In the 19th century, Concord was home to a literary revolution spawned by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and others. That legacy still thrives today, as local authors continue to inform, inspire, and stir the imagination. And during the holidays, there’s no better gift than a book — something thoughtful, lasting, and deeply personal.
Concord-born Henry David Thoreau is among the town’s most quoted writers. One of his best-known sentiments is telling the reader that you should “endeavor to live the life that [you have] imagined.” But not even he could imagine where part of his life’s work would end up one day.
In her engaging biography, Emerson’s Daughters, Kate Culkin brings out of the shadows two of “Concord’s favorite daughters,” Ellen and Edith, who had a “sisterhood built on correspondence,” and whose contributions have been all but lost until now.
In 1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family returned to Concord after living abroad for seven years. Now, back in the home they called The Wayside, the Hawthornes would rejoin their circle of literary friends.
On a spring evening in early April, Concord’s creative community gathered under a starscape of giant whimsical poppies decorating the ceiling of The Umbrella Arts Center for an event that celebrated the arts and honored the acclaimed author of Wicked and a long-time Concord resident, Gregory Maguire. There was much to celebrate as Maguire is actively supporting the rollout of a film adaptation of Wicked, as well as touring for his fifth book in the Wicked series, Elphie.
As tensions between the North and South increased throughout the 1850s, Ralph Waldo Emerson, like many Americans, was becoming more resigned to the prospect of civil war. He was convinced that the “insanity” of the South’s attachment to slavery would soon tear the nation apart.
Concord, MA, has been known since the 19th century for its celebrated writers. Names like Thoreau, Alcott, Hawthorne, and Emerson have been joined by Kearns Goodwin, Maguire, Lightman, and others. This spring, several of Concord’s modern-day authors have new books that you won’t want to miss. Head to Barrow Bookstore, the Concord Book Shop, or the Concord Free Public Library and get to know our hometown authors. You may even find a signed copy to add to your library!
