diff --git a/gnu-system.am b/gnu-system.am
index 0a9fb4651e..8355104a28 100644
--- a/gnu-system.am
+++ b/gnu-system.am
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ GNU_SYSTEM_MODULES =				\
   gnu/packages/bdb.scm				\
   gnu/packages/bdw-gc.scm			\
   gnu/packages/bison.scm			\
+  gnu/packages/boost.scm			\
   gnu/packages/bootstrap.scm			\
   gnu/packages/cdrom.scm			\
   gnu/packages/cflow.scm			\
diff --git a/gnu/packages/boost.scm b/gnu/packages/boost.scm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73b377e384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gnu/packages/boost.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+;;; GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
+;;; Copyright © 2014 John Darrington <jmd@gnu.org>
+;;;
+;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
+;;;
+;;; GNU Guix is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+;;; under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+;;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
+;;; your option) any later version.
+;;;
+;;; GNU Guix is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+;;; WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+;;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+;;; GNU General Public License for more details.
+;;;
+;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+;;; along with GNU Guix.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+(define-module (gnu packages boost)
+  #:use-module ((guix licenses)
+                #:renamer (symbol-prefix-proc 'license:))
+  #:use-module (guix packages)
+  #:use-module (guix download)
+  #:use-module (guix build-system gnu)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages python)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages tcsh)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages perl))
+
+(define-public boost
+  (package
+    (name "boost")
+    (version "1.55.0")
+    (source (origin
+              (method url-fetch)
+              (uri (string-append
+                    "mirror://sourceforge/boost/boost_"
+                    (string-map (lambda (x) (if (eq? x #\.) #\_ x)) version)
+                    ".tar.bz2"))
+              (sha256
+               (base32
+                "0lkv5dzssbl5fmh2nkaszi8x9qbj80pr4acf9i26sj3rvlih1w7z"))))
+    (build-system gnu-build-system)
+    (native-inputs
+     `(("perl" ,perl)
+       ("python" ,python-2)
+       ("tcsh" ,tcsh)))
+    (arguments
+     `(#:phases
+       (alist-replace
+        'configure
+        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+            (substitute* '("libs/config/configure"
+                           "libs/spirit/classic/phoenix/test/runtest.sh"
+                           "tools/build/v2/doc/bjam.qbk"
+                           "tools/build/v2/engine/execunix.c"
+                           "tools/build/v2/engine/Jambase"
+                           "tools/build/v2/engine/jambase.c")
+              (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+
+            (setenv "SHELL" (which "sh"))
+            (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "sh"))
+
+            (zero? (system* "./bootstrap.sh"
+                            (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                            "--with-toolset=gcc"))))
+        (alist-replace
+         'build
+         (lambda _
+           (zero? (system* "./b2" "threading=multi" "link=shared")))
+
+         (alist-replace
+          'check
+          (lambda _ #t)
+
+          (alist-replace
+           'install
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "./b2" "install" "threading=multi" "link=shared")))
+           %standard-phases))))))
+
+    (home-page "http://boost.org")
+    (synopsis "Peer-reviewed portable C++ source libraries")
+    (description
+     "A collection of libraries intended to be widely useful, and usable
+across a broad spectrum of applications.")
+    (license (license:x11-style "http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt"
+                                "Some components have other similar licences."))))