By Steve Puleo
On November 9, 1872 — an unseasonably mild evening in Boston — the Great Fire ravaged the prime business section of the city, what would be today's financial district. The fire, described in detail in “A City So Grand,” left 65 acres of smoldering ruins and destroyed 776 buildings. But most notable is the city's response. Even in the midst of a financial depression and bank panic, Boston managed to rebuild its downtown and implement reforms to guard against another devastating fire.
It was great talking about The Boston Italians yesterday at the Leominster Public Library as part of the library's creative "Sunday Afternoon Speaking Series." Leominster has a wonderful Italian-American tradition, and I appreciated the warm reception I got! The refreshments were also a real treat. Thanks to Leominster for your hospitality.
My thanks to the College Club of Boston Thursday night for a wonderful evening. Dinner was delicious (Chef Jesse is outstanding), the molasses-colored tablecloths were a great touch, the audience was outstanding, and I'm appreciative of the club's generous donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation!
I love hearing from readers who share stories of their ancestry, such as this message from Joseph A. Sardina, M.D.: “A hearty Tante Grazie for “The Boston Italians.” I practically read it in a single sitting! It provided a rich tapestry for greater understanding of what my ancestors struggled with, who also were immigrant Southern Italians at the end of the 19th century, living in the North End. You will help many generations of Italian-Americans come to understand their true heritage.”
As expected, I had a terrific visit with the Plymouth Pine Hills reading clubs on Monday night. A large crowd of readers who were enthusiastic AND generous; I'm grateful for their donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Thanks again, Pine Hills!
My thanks to all who joined me for a great event in Wrentham last night. A special thanks to the Wrentham Book Club, and especially Jan Battikha, for your organization and hard work -- which helped attract an overflow crowd! I'm once again humbled by the enthusiastic support of my work from reading clubs and communities throughout Massachusetts.
I’m looking forward to a full schedule of events throughout Massachusetts this fall, including a multi-author book fair, discussions with students, meetings with reading clubs, and library appearances. Sharing the stories behind my books is one of my greatest pleasures as an author. I continue to add events to my calendar. Check the Appearances page for updates.
On September 17, 1851, President Millard Fillmore was greeted by thousands of cheering Bostonians gathered on the Boston Common for the Great Boston Railroad Jubilee -- a three-day celebration to mark the completion of railway lines and the beginning of service connecting Boston with Montreal and the Western United States. The event, highlighted in A City So Grand, was the culmination of 20 years of breathtaking technological progress.
Much has been said about the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and like everyone, I have many feelings about it. I’d like to just say this: I have family members who are firefighters, cops, and medical professionals; my dad was a WWII veteran and I know many of today's veterans. I’m grateful for the sacrifice and heroism of veterans and first responders – the very epitome of America’s finest and American exceptionalism. Today, my prayers are with them and all who lost loved ones on 9/11/01.
As Labor Day approaches, consider the labor involved to construct America's first subway in Boston in 1897, which I chronicle in A City So Grand. The first car rolled into Park Street station on Sept. 1, and the next day, exactly 114 years ago, the city was basking in the triumphant grand opening. An estimated 200,000 riders paid the 5-cent fare that day. As another writer described it: "Boston had done it -- planned, financed, built, and on this day, opened the first subway in the New World."
For everyone kind enough to ask about my next book, thank you! I'm happy to say that "Puleo Book 5" is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2012. Not much more I can say for now, except that it will be a narrative history (like my other books), and I'll be busy writing over the next several months! More details to come.
I spent some time in the North End last week taping a segment for a North End Historical Society project on the history of the neighborhood. The Society is hoping to do a full-fledged documentary on the North End -- with an emphasis on its Italian history -- and is producing a shorter segment to be used for promotional purposes. I was honored to be asked to participate!
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of presenting to a great group of professionals from the National Fire Protection Association. Thanks for a great meeting, and for all your important work ensuring our safety from fire and other hazards.
Many thanks to the students at Lynn Classical High School for their great questions during my visit to the school. I’m honored that LCHS has chosen Dark Tide for its summer reading book, and we had a nice "pre-reading” discussion. I’ll be returning in the fall to see what students thought of the book! Also, thanks to the students for their wonderful donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
I truly enjoyed my recent visit to Bridgewater-Raynham High School, where I spoke to more than 100 freshmen about “Dark Tide” and the writing process in general. Today, I’m meeting with students at Lynn (MA) Classical High School. It’s a pleasure to talk books, writing, and history with high school students, who always bring thoughtful, honest questions to the discussion.
To all my wonderful readers, I’d ask you to please take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember all of those who have served our country, and especially those who have made the supreme sacrifice to preserve our freedom.
Thanks to Lynn Classical High School for including Dark Tide on its summer reading list! It will be mandatory reading for incoming grades 10-12, and an “add-on” book for grade 9. It’s great to know that Dark Tide will have so many young readers in the coming months.
I enjoyed two “bookend” events last week. On Monday, I appeared at Bridgewater State University as part of Bridgewater/Raynham’s “One Book" celebration, which featured “Dark Tide.” About 120 people attended, and organizers presented me with a beautiful BSU blanket. On Saturday, more than 100 people came to my “A City So Grand” presentation at the Newburyport Literary Festival. Thanks to both communities!
Happy Birthday to John Scagnelli, one of the heroes featured in my book, Due to Enemy Action. On April 23, 1945 -- two days after his 25th birthday -- the USS Eagle 56, on which John was an officer, was struck by a German U-boat torpedo attack. John was one of the 13 survivors of the attack and is a true American hero. I am honored to know him.
Thank you to the North Attleborough Historical Society for a terrific event Monday night! A great crowd in a great location -- nearly 70 enthusiastic readers and history buffs in a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse. Thanks to all who took time out of their holiday to attend and ask great questions.
I want to offer my thanks to Wakefield, MA and the Sweetser Lecture Series for a great event last night! Another full house and a wonderfully run event to mark my 300th appearance as an author. It was my third visit to Sweetser and this is the best-run series I've been associated with, thanks to Sara Murphy and her entire team! Wakefield should be very proud of this series. There is nothing quite like it around.
My appearance on Wednesday night in Wakefield marks an important personal milestone for me — it will be my 300th speaking engagement! Sharing the stories behind my books with a live audience is one of the greatest pleasures in my work as an author. I am grateful to all who attend my presentations.
I recently had the honor of visiting officers in the Airborne Network Division at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA, where I discussed my book, Due to Enemy Action, and WWII in general. The work these troops do to keep our country safe is amazing, and they ask very little in return. We owe them a great deal and should be so very proud of them. I’m pictured below with U.S. Air Force Colonel Del DeLaPena (left) and Captain Scott VanHoogen (right).
Dark Tide was number 9 on this week’s Boston Globe bestseller list for paperback nonfiction. It is such a thrill to see this book continue to resonate with readers nearly 8 years after its publication. Thanks to all who have embraced this book and recommended it to their friends. Word-of-mouth is a powerful factor in a book’s success — I appreciate your efforts!
A great event in Burlington last night! Thanks to all the sponsors of “Burlington Reads,” to everyone who attended, and especially to Lori Hodgson and her team at the Burlington Public Library. From a molasses bake-off to a series of book discussions, the town went to great lengths to encourage community-wide reading. The support of “Dark Tide” — from so many communities — is humbling and greatly appreciated.
A huge thanks to Emily Reardon and her team at the Belmont Public Library for the wonderful “One Book One Belmont” program. More than 235 people attended our Dark Tide discussion, but the program featured many other special events, involvement from hundreds of townspeople, and support from dozens of sponsors. Thanks to Emily and all of Belmont for a fantastic effort!
I love how Burlington, MA — my hometown! — has been celebrating its community-wide read of "Dark Tide." They've had a molasses bake-off and rum tasting, and are hosting a series of book discussion events. I look forward to speaking there on March 30.
The town of Belmont, MA has created great posters of employees, business owners, and politicians reading “Dark Tide” for the “One Book One Belmont” program. I’ll be on hand for a discussion and book signing on March 24. The program will also feature an art exhibit, book discussions, and children’s activities.
Thanks to South Boston's Castle Island Association for an enjoyable event today. Great audience of about 100 people, and great book buyers too! I truly appreciate the enthusiasm and support.
My thanks to the entire team at Bernstein Global Wealth Management in downtown Boston for an enjoyable lunch-hour event where I discussed A City So Grand. One of the great parts about being an author is that I get to speak to a variety of audiences at many different venues. The folks at Bernstein were engaged, enthusiastic, and made me feel very much at home.
Nice feature in the New England travel section of today’s Boston Globe, on good books to curl up with this winter. It highlights A City So Grand, stating: “With a superb handling of narrative, Puleo courses through Boston’s role in the antislavery movement and the Civil War." Read it here.
The towns of Bridgewater and Raynham, MA have joined together to “share” a community wide-read of Dark Tide. Thanks, Raynham, for becoming the 15th community to feature the book in a reading program. The program was highlighted in a recent article, and I’ll be speaking in Bridgewater on April 25.
The Town of Belmont, MA, has a great celebration planned for its 2011 “One Book, One Belmont” program. Dark Tide is the featured book, and I’ll be on hand for a discussion and book signing on March 24. I’ll also host a reservations-only North End tour on April 2. Watch the library website for more information. The program will feature an art exhibit, film, book discussions, children’s activities, and more.
On January 5, Johnny Breeze, one of the heroes of Due to Enemy Action, passed away. He lived in the Seattle area and was one of the living survivors of the U-853 torpedo attack on the USS Eagle 56 on April 23, 1945. A great man, and another WWII hero we have lost. I was honored to have known him.
I always enjoy thoughtful discussions with people who love books. Thanks to the Massachusetts General Hospital Book Club for a lovely lunch today -- my first reading club session of the year.
I had a great time discussing A City So Grand at the Scituate (MA) Historical Society annual dinner Saturday night. It was a pleasure to address such an engaged crowd of 160 people. Thanks, Scituate!
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