With its rich history of prominent families, Massachusetts is home to some of the most historic residences in the country. In the central and western half of the Commonwealth, these include Edith Wharton's The Mount, the Salisbury Mansion in Worcester, Herman Melville's Arrowhead in Pittsfield, and the Dickinson Homestead and the Evergreens in Amherst.

In At Home: Historic Houses of Central and Western Massachusetts, Beth Luey examines the lives and homes of acclaimed poets and writers, slaves who won their freedom, Civil War ­enlistees, socialites, and leading merchants. Drawing on architectural and genealogical texts, wills, correspondence, and diaries, Luey situates the stories of these notable homes and the people who inhabited them in the context of broader economic, social, and political transformations. Filled with vivid details and fresh perspectives, each chapter is sure to inspire first-time visitors and seasoned travelers alike. All the homes are open to the public.

BETH LUEY is author of At Home: Historic Houses of Eastern Massachusetts and House Stories: The Meanings of Home in a New England Town. She lives in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

"If you are looking for a readable guide to everyday life and architecture in central and western Massachusetts, this is your best choice. The work is realistic, thoughtful, detailed, accurate, and always surprising."—Peter Benes, author of For a Short Time Only: Itinerants and the Resurgence of Popular Culture in Early America

"As in a previous book she wrote about historic homes in the eastern part of the commonwealth, Luey, who lives near New Bedford, examines the histories behind several famous homes in this part of the state."—Daily Hampshire Gazette