D. Brenton Simons

An interesting and amusing collection of swindles, scams, murders, suicides, adulteries, divorces and bigamies among the elite in Boston during the colonial times. This just goes to support my theory that Nothing Ever Changes: the Founding Fathers and Mothers misbehaved quite as colorfully as their descendants 300+ years later. I admire the author's efforts to dig out these fascinating but very obscure tales. A series of similar books on other major colonial cities (New York, Philadelphia, show more Charleston etc) would definitely hold my attention. show less

If you're in need of a nice coffee-table book for the Bostonophile on your shopping list, you could do little better than Boston Beheld: Antique Town and Country Views (University Press of New England, 2008). The New England Historic Genealogical Society's D. Brenton Simons has gathered a marvelous, even stunning collection of 65 images of Boston (cityscapes, harbor views, and specific neighborhoods/buildings), to "capture the multifaceted and often picturesque character of a long-vanished show more town that has given way to a modern metropolis" (p. 1).

In his introduction, Simons offers some of the most interesting and noteworthy descriptions of Boston from early visitors (flattering and otherwise), and his methodology in choosing the images (which come from a variety of institutional and private collections).

Each of the plates is given pride of place on its own page, faced with a full description and a couple paragraphs of descriptive and explanatory text (well-researched, footnoted, and clearly written). The images are well chosen and beautifully reproduced.

A fine volume, perfect for a good browse or an in-depth read.

http://philobiblos.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-boston-beheld.html show less