In the 19th century, Concord was home to a literary revolution spawned by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and others. That legacy still thrives today, as local authors continue to inform, inspire, and stir the imagination. And during the holidays, there’s no better gift than a book — something thoughtful, lasting, and deeply personal.
Nestled in the sitting room of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s beautiful Concord home, I find myself in a cozy atmosphere that downplays the importance of the leather-bound volumes surrounding us as we chat. Photos of Doris and her late husband, Richard N. Goodwin (Dick Goodwin, as he was widely known), are hung alongside images of the Queen of England, Presidents – both Democrat and Republican, and even Che Guevara. These portraits are intermingled with family photos and treasures brought back from faraway lands. The impressive woman in front of me is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a frequent guest on news channels and talk shows, a world-renowned speaker, a powerful role model, and a sought-after mentor. Today, however, in this inviting home designed as much for family and entertaining friends as it is for creating award-winning books, I have the true pleasure of sitting with my friend and neighbor to talk about her amazing life.
