Chamberlain, Samuel. Longfellow's Wayside Inn, A Camera Impression by Samuel Chamberlain.

Hastings House, 1938. [American Landmarks series.] A very good copy with protected good dust jacket that has crimp across near top, also minor wear at extremities. Summary:

Published in 1938 by Hastings House as part of his "American Landmarks" series, Longfellow's Wayside Inn: A Camera Impression by Samuel Chamberlain is a photographic tribute to the historic Howe Tavern (known as the Wayside Inn) in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1863 collection of poems, Tales of a Wayside Inn, the site is celebrated in Chamberlain's book through concise historical narrative paired with rich photogravure illustrations.

Chamberlain’s visual essay documents the early 18th-century structure's rustic architectural charm, detailed period interiors, surrounding gardens, and New England countryside. Rather than merely capturing a building, the photographs emphasize the inn's living history and literary legacy, showcasing its original fireplaces, antique furnishings, and timber-framed construction alongside excerpts from Longfellow’s poetry. Through his signature focus on light, texture, and regional heritage, Chamberlain frames the Wayside Inn not just as a landmark, but as an enduring symbol of historic American hospitality and New England culture.

Samuel Vance Chamberlain (1895–1975) was an American photographer, etcher, author, and educator renowned for his vivid documentation of historical architecture and landscapes. Born in Cresco, Iowa, Chamberlain initially studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before serving as a volunteer ambulance driver in France during World War I. After the war, he established himself as an accomplished printmaker and instructor at MIT while spending extensive time traveling across France, Italy, and Spain. In the 1930s, he transitioned his primary artistic focus from etching to photography, launching a prolific partnership with publisher Hastings House that produced nearly 100 photobooks and popular weekly engagement calendars celebrating New England's historic landmarks and European heritage. A versatile creative who also co-authored several travelogues and illustrated cookbooks with his wife, Narcissa, Chamberlain remained an influential figure in printmaking and architectural photography until his death in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1975.