Over burgundy and brandy at Boston's Parker House in May 1857, there occurred a rare fusion of good minds and venturesome money. In ten hours at table, eight Bostonians agreed to start a magazine "devoted to literature, art and politics" that would "endeavor to be the exponent of what its conductors believe to be the American idea." Thus was born the Atlantic Monthly, whose first issue, edited by Poet James Russell Lowell, appeared 100 years ago this week. Eight editors, 1,200 issues and some 100 million words later, the Atlantic is the second oldest...
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