J. T. Fields and The Old Corner Book Store
10/06/2007 10:42 AM
The name J.T. Fields came up
on several occasions during our study-tour:
1) his publishing house was along the Freedom Trail in Boston; 2) he was the publisher of works by Hawthorne, Longfellow, Thoreau, Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Louisa May Alcott; and 3) it was he who helped introduce Hawthorne and Melville to each other, although his role is slight. The next three blogs will elaborate upon these points.
When we were in Boston, you may have noticed a small brick building at the corner of School and Washington streets, near Faneuil Hall and the Old State House. One of the oldest structures in Boston, this gambrel-roof building was constructed shortly after 1712. First it was used as an apothecary shop for Thomas Crease. Later, however, from 1833-1864, it came to fame as the office of Ticknor and Fields, the most important book publishers in America. The Scarlet Letter and Walden were published in this very establishment, as was The Atlantic Monthly magazine. Not only did Hawthorne and Emerson frequent this venerable building, but such British writers and Dickens and Thackeray also paid visits. Indeed, it is fair to say that no other single building in American has been associated with so many famous writers. Today the structure has been preserved and is the home of The Boston Globe Store, a retailer focusing upon travel books and maps.
Worth mentioning is that an earlier building occupying this site was the home of Anne Hutchinson, the famous religious leader who was banished from Massachusetts in 1638. Her house was later destroyed in the Fire of 1711.
1) his publishing house was along the Freedom Trail in Boston; 2) he was the publisher of works by Hawthorne, Longfellow, Thoreau, Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Louisa May Alcott; and 3) it was he who helped introduce Hawthorne and Melville to each other, although his role is slight. The next three blogs will elaborate upon these points.
When we were in Boston, you may have noticed a small brick building at the corner of School and Washington streets, near Faneuil Hall and the Old State House. One of the oldest structures in Boston, this gambrel-roof building was constructed shortly after 1712. First it was used as an apothecary shop for Thomas Crease. Later, however, from 1833-1864, it came to fame as the office of Ticknor and Fields, the most important book publishers in America. The Scarlet Letter and Walden were published in this very establishment, as was The Atlantic Monthly magazine. Not only did Hawthorne and Emerson frequent this venerable building, but such British writers and Dickens and Thackeray also paid visits. Indeed, it is fair to say that no other single building in American has been associated with so many famous writers. Today the structure has been preserved and is the home of The Boston Globe Store, a retailer focusing upon travel books and maps.
Worth mentioning is that an earlier building occupying this site was the home of Anne Hutchinson, the famous religious leader who was banished from Massachusetts in 1638. Her house was later destroyed in the Fire of 1711.