Whether you prefer beer, wine, or cocktails, collecting books on beverages can be nearly as enjoyable as actually drinking them. On this week’s episode we’ll talk about a book on winemaking from the late 1700’s, a drinks menu from the 1930’s, and one of the first books on mixology – with a local twist. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite red and settle in for a spirited discussion on this refreshing #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #1 - The History of The Brattle Book Shop (Pilot) --Repeat of a classic
We are repeating our pilot episode of Brattlecast! Proprietor Kenneth Gloss discusses the history of one of America's oldest rare and antiquarian bookshops. Learn the story of George Gloss and his son Kenneth: the Brattle's journey from historic Brattle Street through urban renewal, a disastrous fire, and the business of secondhand bookselling today.
Brattlecast #132 - Old Time Travel Pics
Today in the studio we have an album of vacation photos from the 1890’s, taken by an anonymous but well traveled amateur photographer. Interest in collecting these sorts of vernacular photos has been increasing, in part because the work of well known photographers has become prohibitively expensive, but also because of their unstaged quality and fascinating candor. With these pictures we travel around the world, but also back in time, catching glimpses of everyday life at the edges of scenic vistas and tourist attractions. Come with us, on today’s #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #131 - Great Gifts Anytime!
Good books are always a gift, especially when they’re…well, given as one. A thoughtfully chosen vintage travel guide or piece of ephemera can jog memories of a vanished world, encouraging the recipient to reminisce and share stories about their own life. On this episode we’re discussing the specialized book-gifting preferences of some of our regular customers, one of whom Ken always keeps in mind when material on pre-revolutionary Cuba comes into the shop. Whether it's for the holidays, a birthday, or just because, sometimes the best presents are the ones that take us back into the past.
Brattlecast #130 - Edward Bernays, Father of PR (audio fixed)
On this week’s episode we’re talking about friend of the shop Edward Bernays. Known as “the father of public relations,” Bernays had an enormous influence on the way that products—and politics—are marketed to the American public. In the 1920’s he put a spin on Lucky Strike cigarettes as ‘Torches of Freedom’ (then worked on anti-smoking campaigns in the 1970’s) and he helped sell the idea that a modestly left-leaning Central American government was a communist menace in our own backyard. More importantly for our purposes, during the post-war housing boom he persuaded builders to include bookshelves in new homes, in a clever effort to sell more books. Learn more about Bernays, including how he met Ken, on today’s #brattlecast.