I'll be right up front, I work for the publisher of this first book, Cambridge University Press. But I work on the Higher Education side and I will not substantially benefit from the sale of this book. But I do think it's a great book for anyone who is visiting Cambridge and wants to really know the history of a place before they go. The book is The Story of Cambridge by Stephanie Boyd. Since joining Cambridge nearly 8 years ago, I've been lucky enough to visit multiple times. On my first visit I stumbled on a copy of the earlier edition abandoned in a conference room. I snitched it and brought it back home to NYC. Unlike my textbooks where I demand that the editors give me a chapter-by-chapter list of what is new, I don't have a list of what has changed. All I can say is that there are more maps, many new images and it "reflects the changes of the past view decades and presents a more diverse view of the city." And yes, I think that last statement refers to more women and more people of color now included. The book starts Prehistoric Cambridge and takes you to the modern city that you and I visit.
I love understanding the history of the places I visit, whether it is Rochester NY or Cambridge UK or Cambridge MA. I expect if you are a fan of Rick Steve's you are likely of the same mind. Another type of books I like to read are mysteries set in the places I visit whether they are in the present or the past. For Cambridge I found Alison Bruce on one visit with Cambridge Blue. And then there is Susanna Gregory's here, Matthew Bartholomew which takes me back in time.
What are your favorites? What would you recommend to travelers try to get in the mood through fiction and non-fiction?
Pam