Place Names in Boston & Beyond - by Amanda Rotondo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

There is nothing funnier to a Bay Stater than hearing those from out of town trying to pronounce tongue-twister town names.

Leo-Minster? Who's Leo? Quin-zee? There's no Z in there! As it turns out, these towns with funny names are full of wonderful, surprisingly untold stories. Some are hilarious: a landlocked sailing-themed amusement park run by a man who built himself a house that looks exactly like a boat. Some are inspiring: a city's outpouring of support for enslaved people fighting for their freedom. Others are simply delightful: two women rejecting oppressive Victorian social standards and embarking on a joyful, long-distance adventure.

Local author Amanda Rotondo offers this amusing collection of place names and stories, providing a window into the worlds of the fascinating people who helped make these towns the unique places they are today.

Review Quotes

What's in a Name?

"Most people know the story of Paul Revere, the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock or the infamous Salem witch trials. But there are also plenty of other, lesser known Massachusetts stories and characters that have been lost to time. They deserve a retelling. Amanda Rotondo is the one to do it with her new book, Place Names in Boston & Beyond: Tongue Twisted Town Tales." -- Ruth Thompson, Wicked Local

About the Author

Amanda Rotondo is a storyteller who finds the funny and fantastical in everyday situations. She has written humorous essays for various publications, as well as professional and academic book chapters and articles. She holds a doctoral degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lives outside Boston with her family.