Williamstown and Williams College, Paperback

Nestled in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Williamstown is home to one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the country, Williams College. In this engrossing and entertaining book, Dustin Griffin offers fourteen vignettes that detail the local history of this ideal New England college town. Each chapter focuses on the stories behind a single feature that visitors to present-day Williamstown and Williams College might encounter, including a Civil War statue on Main Street, town-wide holidays, a popular hiking trail, a stained-glass window in the college chapel, and a song that alumni sing at reunions.

Well researched and written in an accessible style, Williamstown and Williams College is a must-have resource for anyone connected with Williams College -- from students and parents to alumni -- as well as visitors who want to understand what makes this town unique.

Dustin Griffin is professor emeritus of English at New York University. He lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Williams College.