Boston's Literary Heroes From the Hood 📚 from Kerouac to Poe

Ann Sexton

Hey there, book nerds 🤓

Let's talk about the literary icons that once called Boston home. From Edgar Allan Poe to Sylvia Plath, these writers have left an sticky mark on literature that still resonates today.

Let's start with the spooky Edgar Allan Poe. Did you know that he wrote “The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Pit and the Pendulum” while living on Carver Street in the West End? Sadly, the place is gone - blame it on urban renewal.

Moving on, there’s the infamous Anne Sexton. Known for her confessional poetry that tackled taboo subjects such as mental illness and suicide, Sexton lived in Newton (technically not Boston but close). It's said that her house was the setting for many of her poems, including "Her Kind" and "The Double Image."

Next up is the ever-enigmatic Sylvia Plath. She's most famous for her novel, "The Bell Jar," which was semi-autobiographical and chronicled her battle with depression. Plath lived on Beacon Hill, where she wrote much of her work, including "Daddy" and "Lady Lazarus."

Then there’s the legendary Robert Frost. He is one of the most beloved poets of the 20th century, and people still love his work. He won four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry and was known for his rural settings and everyday language. Oh, and he happened to live at 88 Eldridge Road in Jamaica Plain!

Can’t ever forget the ever so cool genius, Jack Kerouac. Jack was born in Lowell and, if you’ve read his books you know he was “On the Road” alot (sorry lol). He lived in several locations in Boston including 29 Concord Avenue in Cambridge and 29 Russell Street on Beacon Hill.

Finally, we have the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather. She lived in Boston in the early 1900s, residing at 148 Charles Street on Beacon Hill. While in here, Cather wrote for the the Boston Globe when it was called “Boston Daily Globe”. She also wrote some of her most famous work including including "My Ántonia" and "Death Comes for the Archbishop."

Whose your favorite from the above list? Do you know any other literary figures from the hood? Let us know in the comments!