Concord, Massachusetts
Two weeks of talks, readings, and discussions celebrating the written and the spoken word.
Nathaniel Philbrick
Gish Jen
Andrew Bacevich
Pauline Maier
How You Can Participate
- Attend: Most events are free. All events are open to the public. Events that require a ticket are so indicated and include information about how and where to obtain tickets.
- Donate: The festival is produced by a non-profit foundation and depends greatly on individual support. Tax deductible donations in any amount are encouraged and can be made online.
- Sponsor: Corporate sponsorship is welcomed and is available. For information please .
John Hanson Mitchell
Events: Urban Natural History
Book: The Paradise of All These Parts: A Natural History of Boston
John Hanson Mitchell is the author of ten books of nonfiction, including Ceremonial Time, Walking Towards Walden, Looking for Mr. Gilbert, and The Rose Cafe. In much of his work he uses “Scratch Flat,” a single square mile of land in eastern Massachusetts to address the larger issues of what it means to be living on earth in our time.
Mitchell’s latest book, The Paradise of All These Parts, investigates Boston’s natural history, exploring a variety of habitats as he ranges outward from the core the peninsula where the Puritans first settled to the ancient rim of the Boston Basin, within which the modern city now lies.
Along with his nonfiction work, Mitchell is editor of the award-winning magazine, Sanctuary, published by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. In 2000, he was given the New England Booksellers’ Award for the body of his work.