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Concord's Literary Legacy Lives on in Independent Bookstores
By Marybeth Kelly
~ From Work: A Story of Experience; a semi-autobiographical novel by Louisa May Alcott, 1873
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
From the heights of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the bards surely look down upon their Concord with pride. The little hamlet, where the nation’s spark of independence was lit on April 19, 1775, brought forth a second uprising in the mid-nineteenth century. With the publication of “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1836, Concord launched a revolution of philosophy and literature that made Concord the center of political, literary, and social zeitgeist for over a century. Unlike the earlier revolution, this period of America’s renaissance was void of violence but full of inspiration.
In the truest spirit of Concord, today there are dozens of places where readers of varying appetites can purchase books. All are independently owned. One began in a wheelbarrow, another as the woodshed of the 253-year-old ancestral home of the Emerson family.
Whether you are looking for a rare collector’s item to add to your library or the first book to read to your wee-one, Concord can satisfy. Treat yourself to a bookshop-crawl. What better way to spend the day, divorced from technology and in search of inspiration, than between the pages of real books? Here is a sampling of some of Concord’s best independent bookstores.
A special shout-out to the Concord Free Public Library, welcoming all to a world of books in a truly transcendent space. 129 Main Street; concordlibrary.org
For more than 30 years, Barefoot Books has been creating visually captivating, award-winning books (for ages 0 to 12) that celebrate diversity, spark curiosity, and capture children’s imaginations. Visit their event space and store at 23 Bradford Street, Floor 2, or shop online anytime at barefootbooks.com.
Barefoot Books
Courtesy of Barefoot Books
Barrow Bookstore rolled to life in a Victorian wheelbarrow in 1971 and is owned and staffed by past and present Concord tour guides. Barrow specializes in Concord history and authors, and a carefully curated collection of rare, signed, and gently-read books from over 50 categories. 79 Main Street; barrowbookstore.com
Barrow Bookstore
Courtesy of Barrow Bookstore
Concord Bookshop began in August of 1940 after a small notice at the bottom of The Concord Journal announced that a bookshop and lending library would open. Seventy-five years and many moves later, it still serves the Concord community by offering a diverse and distinctive selection of books for all ages. 65 Main Street; concordbookshop.com
Concord Bookshop
Courtesy of Concord Bookshop
Visit the gift shop at the Concord Museum and peruse an assortment of books for all ages to enhance your Concord experience. 53 Cambridge Turnpike; concordmuseum.org
Doe + Fawn is a women-owned children’s store featuring an extensive and charming collection of children’s books. This is the perfect place to find your child’s new favorite book. 105 Commonwealth Avenue; doefawn.com
Emerson House keeps alive the rich history and contributions of Ralph Waldo Emerson. The gift shop at the Ralph Waldo Emerson House has books on his writing and leadership of the transcendentalist movement that made him one of Concord’s favorite sons. 28 Cambridge Turnpike; ralphwaldoemersonhouse.org
Gift shop at the Emerson House
Courtesy of the Emerson House
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House is where the Alcott family found their “anchoring place” and where they lived until 1877. The house is where Louisa May Alcott wrote and set her beloved classic, Little Women, in 1868. Visit their gift shop for a full complement of books. 399 Lexington Road; louisamayalcott.org
The Old Manse Museum is the ancestral home of the Emerson family. Visit the gift shop in the old woodshed, staffed by Concord historians and tour guides, for a wide variety of books about all of its famous inhabitants including Nathaniel Hawthorne whose first publication was entitled Mosses From An Old Manse. 269 Monument Street; thetrustees.org/place/theoldmanse
The Thoreau Society Shop at Walden Pond is where you will find knowledgeable staff and books related to Henry David Thoreau and his contemporaries. You’ll also find writings on Walden Pond, nature, and the environment. Come for a visit and simplify! 915 Walden Street; shopatwaldenpond.org
Marybeth Kelly is a historic interpreter for The Trustees of Reservations at The Old Manse Museum. She is the author of “Flipping the Script: The Women of The Old Manse” and resides in her beloved Concord.
