Magazine

Ken Gloss, Antiquarian Bookseller, Boston, Massachusetts

Family lore has it that Ken Gloss’s first spoken word was “book.” How could it be otherwise? His father, George Gloss, made the Brattle Book Shop, in business since 1825, a local landmark. But Ken has put his own stamp on the place, too. With his frequent appearances on Antiques Roadshow, he’s today’s most recognizable […]

A person stands in a narrow space between towering stacks of books, with additional books on the floor and shelves, appearing to organize or browse the collection.

Photo Credit: Tremblay, Carl

Family lore has it that Ken Gloss’s first spoken word was “book.” How could it be otherwise? His father, George Gloss, made the Brattle Book Shop, in business since 1825, a local landmark. But Ken has put his own stamp on the place, too. With his frequent appearances on Antiques Roadshow, he’s today’s most recognizable authority on used and rare books. While inside the three-story building the Brattle’s shelves groan with books, outside tables are packed with thousands more, and people spend hours searching for special bargains. I once asked Ken’s wife, Joyce Kosofsky, what his father would say if he could see the Brattle now. “His chest would swell,” she says. “‘My son!'”

Brattle Book Shop, 9 West St. 800-447-9595, 617-542-0210.

Mel Allen

Now editor at large, Mel Allen's first byline in Yankee appeared in 1977 and he joined the staff in 1979 as a senior editor. Eventually he became executive editor and led the staff as editor from 2006 to 2025. During his career he has edited and written for every section of the magazine, including home, food, and travel, while his pursuit of long-form storytelling has always been vital to his mission as well. He has raced a sled dog team, crawled into the dens of black bears, fished with the legendary Ted Williams, profiled astronaut Alan Shephard, and stood beneath a battleship before it was launched. He also once helped author Stephen King round up his pigs for market, but that story is for another day. Mel is author of Here in New England: Unforgettable Stories of People, Places, and Memories That Connect Us All (Earth Sky + Water LLC, 2025).

More by Mel Allen

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