Despite having the appearance of a dry and boring and stuffy book, this informative chronology is actually very interesting. I have to say, the name "A topographical history put me off a bit, for obvious reasons. It sounds like one of those books you find in the corner of the library that no one reads, or on your great uncle's shelf.
It is about the form of Boston, and how it has evolved from a group of houses and churches on the Shawmut peninsula to the irritating and lovable metropolis we know today. The book follows the formation and history of Boston, from it's beginnings as a coastal colony, through the infill of the Back and South Bays, right up to the urban renewal beginning of the fifties. The book was published 1959, which makes for an interesting perspective on what we now see as history. This is also a drawback, because it does not include the rapid change that occurred between the 1960s and now.
Overall, the book is a wonderful portrayal of architecture and development in Boston, and anyone interested in these subjects should consider reading it.
- Chris, Grade 8, CSCL
