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The Crimson Quills Tour: The Literary History of Harvard Square
See the sites. Read the work. Experience literary history.
Have you ever stood somewhere and realized: “This is where an author from the past stood — someone who wrote something that’s impacted me today?”
That’s the experience of the Crimson Quills tour. As we walk the streets of Harvard Square where writers from the past lived, gathered, and wrote, you’ll see that the past and present really do carry on in parallel…
From America’s first printing press and published woman, to Nobel laureates and pioneer poets, discover the writers who lived, studied, and wrote in Harvard Square and how they shaped literary history.
Throughout the tour, we’ll read work by the authors we encounter, including Anne Bradstreet, Margaret Fuller, Harriet Jacobs, and more.
You’ll walk away with a greater understanding of Harvard Square’s literary history, as well as the experience of being in the same place where some of America’s greatest authors once stood.
“I really enjoyed how being physically present in the moment gave me glimpses into the lives of different writers who once shared the same spaces. It felt like a thread connecting all of us. Walking the streets and seeing each corner through their eyes made the experience feel alive.”
– Lena, Ink & Cobblestones Tour
TOUR DETAILS
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: $40
Group Size: Limited to 10 (minimum of 5 people to run)
Location: Harvard Square
Your Guide: Jessica A. Kent, founder and director of Literary Boston
Stops include: Radcliffe, Harvard Yard, the site of the first Colonial printing press, and the residences of Margaret Fuller, Harriet Jacobs, Elizabeth Bishop, Seamus Heaney, Henry James, and more!
Distance: About a mile.
Terrain and accessibility: Relatively flat but does include some uneven surfaces — bring appropriate shoes and stamina!
Weather: Tours run rain or shine. (In the case of very inclement weather, refunds or changes in booking will be offered. See FAQ below.)'
Upcoming dates
Interested in other literary experiences around Boston and Cambridge?
The Ink & Cobblestones Tour: A Walk Through Boston’s Literary Past
The Handmaid’s Tale Walking Tour of Harvard Square
Revolutionary Words (coming soon!)
“I enjoyed being able to read passages written from the authors about the locations we visited. I felt like it was a great way to keep the tour interactive. It also showed how much time and effort you put into researching for your tour. .... All of my friends loved the tour and we talked about the tour for a couple days after.”
– Tour attendee, Ink & Cobblestones Tour
Private WAlking Tours
Book a private tour for your book club, school, or group.
Your Tour Guide
Hi! I’m Jessica, and I’m the founder and director of Literary Boston, which I started in 2012 as a place as a website where people could find everything there was to know about the Boston literary community. But you could say that Literary Boston may have truly started on a trip to Walden Pond in 1999. I fell in love with the literary history of Boston then and I’m still fascinated with it today, so much so that I’ve made it a pillar of my work on Literary Boston.
For the past 25 years, I’ve been studying Boston literary history, from structured study in academic programs to reading historical markers all over the city. Now, I want you to know about our rich literary past, too.
A little bit more about me:
I’m the founder of Literary Boston, a website that covers the local literary community, and other past literary roles include library assistant, bookseller, and book festival director. I hold a BFA in Creative Writing from Emerson and a Master’s in Literature from Harvard, where my thesis on Moby-Dick and Calvinism won the Director’s Prize. My short fiction has appeared the North American Review, the Emerson Review, and others, and has received the Leah Lovenheim Award for Short Fiction. I recently graduated from GrubStreet's Novel Incubator program, where I’m working on a novel about paramedics in 1970s Boston.
If you would like to book me for a private walking tour, head here.
F.A.Q.
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The Crimson Quills Tour runs approximately 90 minutes. We’ll cover about one mile of walking with plenty of stops to talk, learn, and take photos.
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You’ll receive a confirmation email with the exact meeting point after booking. The route begins in Radcliffe Yard, a short walk from the Harvard Square T station.
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We’ll walk about a mile, at a comfortable pace, with frequent stops. The route includes hills and uneven brick sidewalks typical of historic Cambridge, so comfortable shoes are a must!
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All tours are led by Jessica A. Kent, founder and director of Literary Boston. Jessica has spent over a decade researching, writing about, and connecting Boston’s literary past and present — and she’s excited to share those stories with you! Read a bio above.
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Groups are capped at 10 to encourage conversation and connection.
Please note: Tours require a minimum of five registered participants to run. In the rare case that fewer than five people sign up, you’ll be notified 24 hours in advance and offered a full refund or reschedule option.
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Tours run rain or shine! Please dress appropriately for the weather — umbrellas and layers are encouraged. In severe weather (thunderstorms, heavy snow, etc.), you’ll be notified of cancellation and offered a full refund or reschedule.
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For public tours, cancellations made at least 48 hours before the tour will receive a full refund. Within 48 hours, tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another date (if available).
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Cambridge’s historic sidewalks can be uneven and narrow in places. Reach out and we can talk through options.
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Absolutely! Please tag @literary_boston on social media if you post, as sharing helps others discover Boston’s literary history too. I just ask that you refrain from filming large chunks or the whole thing.
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Yes! I’m happy to arrange private tours for schools, book clubs, corporate outings, or visiting groups. Head here to learn more.