Boston A to Z: ,

I am a tour guide in Boston. A friend gave me this book for Christmas. I would not be without it. It is really a wonderful book about Boston. Buy it! If you are coming to visit Bean Town.

Stepping out the front door of my office on 141 Tremont, I can glance slightly up and catch sight of the golden dome of the State House-the present one; the other and older one is a few blocks away on State Street. You would, of course, be looking through Boston Common. And past the "Park Street" T station, which as you realize you enter and exit from Tremont Street. The Park Street Church is just to your right, with a strain right you can see the Old Granary Burial Ground and with a similar lurch left you can see the old cemetery at the corner of Boyslton and Tremont Streets. This time of the year you can head bobbing and weaving on the frozen surface of the Frog Pond. If you start walking even a few blocks sights and sites multiply, geometrically. Dr. Thomas O'Connor, University Historian at Boston College and the "Dean" of Boston historians, has released just in time for Christmas giving a delightful dictionary of the city. Based on his long love affair with and wide knowledge of Boston, O'Connor's latest contribution to the Hub's story is an easy read, but as informative as it is delightful. He mixes people and places, legends and lives, sites and scenes. Selecting just the right number of each and the maintaining a proper balance of generations could be tricky. O'Connor has both the historian's training and the teacher's talent of keeping interest and passing on the stories. "The Rascal King"- James Michael Curley and his contemporary and one time publisher of this paper "Gangplank Bill" - the late Cardinal O'Connell's irreverent moniker appear together again. Sam Adams who actually owned and operated a brewery when he wasn't busy riling revolutions and his cousin John only slightly more diplomatic when compared to his kinsman are reunited in this tour of the city. O'Connor reveals that when he was a young lad his maiden aunt would take him on weekly walks through the city and explain the details of places and people, bits of history and bits of lore. Her influence on and challenge to the young Tom contributed mightily to O'Connor's initial and ongoing thirst for more and more of the "stuff" of Boston. Dr. O'Connor' latest addition is in dictionary form. You can read from A to Z as the title suggestions or in any other order for that matter. You might pick it up and check out this or that name or person or event. You'll smile. You'll nod in memory. You'll be in awe of the city's story, her people and her life. If you're new to the cith this will help you know some of the legend and lore and at least know some of people. If you're a lifer here you'll have new perspective on the Hub. Those visiting the city will have a different picture and be inspired to return. This would be a great Christmas gift for any Bostonian: old or new, young or old, home or away.