A rooming house and it’s inhabitants in Boston’s back bay circa 1901 THE ABBOTT IS A ROOMING HOUSE IN BOSTON’S BACK BAY WHICH LIES WEST OF THE HARBOR SOUTH OF THE RIVER WITH STATELY BROWNSTONES GAS LIGHTS COBBLED STREETS AND DARK ALLEYS. This the tale of the victories and struggles of its owner and tenants and their daily lives more than a century ago.