Celebrating Longfellow: A Dinner & Presentation with Dr. Paul Johnston

6pm: arrival and hors d’oeuvres 6:30pm: seated dinner 7:15pm: presentation by Dr. Paul Johnston Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a convivial man and a convivial poet. Like many who enjoy good company, he enjoyed good stories shared among friends. In Tales of a Wayside Inn, published in 1863, Longfellow imaginatively gathers a group of friends at an inn a pleasant day’s carriage ride west of Cambridge, Massachusetts, along the post road between Boston and New York. These friends, easily recognizable as acquaintances of Longfellow, take turns telling stories. The stories they tell reflect their differing cultural backgrounds and interests. In so doing, Longfellow presents an America different than that of his fellow New England writers: an America of immigrants, an America of persons of diverse religious beliefs and differing national and cultural backgrounds, but all friends nevertheless. If we expand our view further, we find Longfellow expanding his view as well, telling stories of Native Americans and French-speaking Acadians and artists and craftsmen and lovers from around the world, with women figuring more prominently than men. When we look at Longfellow’s total achievement, we see a breadth not found in any other American writer, with a generosity and sympathy to match. Dr. Paul Johnston is a professor emeritus at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, where he taught courses in American literature, science and literature, and Shakespeare. He is the host of the podcast Fireside Poems, featuring the poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as the podcasts Dr. J’s American Passages and Dr. J’s Shakespeare.

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

The Longfellow Wayside Inn

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

Celebrating Longfellow: A Dinner & Presentation with Dr. Paul Johnston

Website

Where?