Works
At Home: Historic Houses of Central and Western Massachusetts
With its rich history of prominent families, Massachusetts is home to some of the most historic residences in the country. In the central and western half of the Commonwealth, these include Edith Wharton's The Mount, the Salisbury Mansion in Worcester, Herman Melville's Arrowhead in Pittsfield, the Dickinson Homestead in Amherst, and the Colonel John Ashley House in Sheffield, where Elizabeth Freeman ("Mumbet") successfuly sued for her freedom.
Beth Luey examines the lives and homes of acclaimed poets and writers, slaves who won their freedom, Civil War enlistees, socialites and leading merchants. Filled with vivid details and fresh perspectives, each chapter is sure to inspire first-time visitors and seasoned travelers alike.
At Home: Historic Houses of Eastern Massachusetts
With its abundant history of prominent families, Masachusetts boasts some of the most historically rich residences in the country. In the eastern half of the Commonwealth, these include Presidents John and John Quincy Adams's homes in Quincy, Bronson and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House in Concord, the Charles Bulfinch-designed Harrison Gray Otis House in Boston, and Edward Gorey's Elephan House in Yarmouth Port.
Beth Luey uses architectural and genealogical texts, wills, correspondence, and diaries to craft delightful narratives of these notable abodes and the people who variously built, acquired, or renovated them.
House Stories: The Meanings of Home in a New England Town
A narrative tour of historic houses in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, a small New England coastal town, invites readers inside to learn each house's secrets. Through letters and diaries, newspaper accounts legal documents, and the recollections of neighbors, Luey introduces a diverse cast of historical characters from 1800 to the 200s, including a Japanese castaway, a self-made millionaire, a seagoing adventurer, a religious pioneer, and an entrepreneurial immigrant. Luey invites readers to join her as she considers the multiple meanings of "home" for these people and their families.
Expanding the American Mind: Books and the Popularization of Knowledge
Since World War II, an increasingly well-educated American public has come to rely on nonfiction written by academics, journalists, and scholars outside the academy to understand a rapidly changing world. This book explores the history of the genre, the authors who write in it, the ways they write, and the ways we read. It also looks at the ways publishers develop, produce, and market popularizations. Based on research in publishers' archives, reader surveys, and author interviews, it explains both the popularity and the value of serious nonfiction.
Handbook for Academic Authors
The fifth edition of this widely recommended book offers advice on choosing a publisher, negotiating a contract, submitting journal articles, revising a dissertation, writing a textbook or a trade book, targeting your audience, and publishing electronically. It answers scholars’ questions about copyright, illustrations, indexing, and other practical matters.