At one of America's oldest bookshops, there are just as many stories to be told outside the pages as in them. Join bookseller Kenneth Gloss and co-host Jordan Rich as they share entertaining conversations and histories surrounding Boston's favorite spot for bibliophiles.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher & Google Play Podcasts.
When did you last pick up a newspaper? Hopefully after 1851. Ken brings Jordan some authentic 19th century newspapers, and outlines the evolution of print periodicals in America. Learn about competing publications in Richmond and New York covering the Civil War, as well as the rise of mass print advertising, and its unfortunate side effect on slavery. There’s nothing quite like getting history right from the source.
On the morning of February 1st, 1980, Ken Gloss receives the devastating news that the wooden 5-story building housing his livelihood is burning down. The losses are nigh incalculable, but what follows, fortunately, is a story of optimism, ingenuity, and of overwhelming camaraderie from the citizens of a city that just loves to read.
Life Magazine: a touchstone of American culture for nearly a century. In this episode, Ken Gloss provides some fascinating background on the enduring popularity of Life among amateur collectors, and the unique way its content, photography, and advertising captured the zeitgeist. Can you guess the magazine's rarest and most elusive cover?
