Siege at the State House tells the true story of a coup that was attempted between Maine's governor and the leaders of a new political party, almost plunging the United States into its second Civil War. With the Maine State House under siege for several weeks by a confederate force, the occupation culminated in a showdown between armed rebels and Civil War hero General Joshua Chamberlain, with Chamberlain standing on the State House steps, exposing his chest, and daring any man present to settle the standoff with violence, if they dared. It was an event the war hero called "Another Roundtop." In light of recent national events, this piece of Maine history is a timely and cautionary tale brought to life by historian Mac Smith. Elements of the story include a Christmas Day raid on Maine's weapons arsenal, missing election results, and seven jackasses.

Mainers on the Titanic traces the stories of passengers on that fateful ship who had ties to Maine. Many of them were wealthy summer visitors to Bar Harbor, but there were other residents of state aboard as well. Their tales are retold, along with what was occurring in the state at the time. Meticulously researched, this book reveals the agonizing day-to-day wait of Mainers for news of what really happened and tells the stories of Maine passengers from their boarding to the sinking and rescue, and, for those who survived, of their final coming ashore in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's a unique and fascinating addition to the Titanic story.

"Sunday, August 6, 1899, is a date that for many years will be held in memory as signalizing the most dreadful accident that has ever occurred within the boundaries of the state of Maine." Bangor Daily Commercial, August 7, 1899 In an era when the only means of travel to the new, glamorous, and growing resort of Bar Harbor was through a small, isolated, rural-yet-elegant point of land on the mainland in the small town of Hancock, Disaster at Mount Desert Ferry tells the true story of what was, at the time, Maine's deadliest disaster. The heartbreaking tale starts with the arrival of a train overcrowded with passengers anxious to be among the first to cross the bay and their rush for a ferry with too few seats, turning a casual summer Sunday outing into a scene of chaos, tragedy, death and heroism, occurring as quickly as the break of a wooden gangplank. Disaster at Mount Desert Ferry tells not only the complete story of the people and the events of that day, but of a time and way of life long gone by and nearly forgotten.

A visit from the President of the United States always brings with it excitement. In Maine, perhaps part of that excitement stems from the fact that presidents rarely visit the state-only 18 of the 45 presidents have visited Maine in the nation's 244-year history. Many of these visits came at significant points in a presidency; and some visits had controversy, conflict, and ironic twists. For example: * During George Washington's visit, Maine was not even Maine, it was part of Massachusetts. * President Ulysses S. Grant was the hero of the recently ended Civil War. * President Richard Nixon was met with protests that saw Mainer battle Mainer. * President Carter spent the night of his visit with a common, ordinary Maine family, in their modest home. * President Trump's visit came in the middle of a global pandemic. Each of Maine's presidential visits left us with great stories, and a detailed view of Maine's lively history.

He is the unloved second son of an old and esteemed family. She is breathtaking and rich but unknowingly carries the seeds of a devastating illness. Their fathers strike a convenient bargain which their children have little choice but to accept. Products of their time, Bertha Mason and Edward Rochester marry for financial security and respectability although they scarcely know one another. At best, they will become comfortable companions who grow to love one another. At worst . . . In Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte hints at their early days together and gives a secondhand account of their catastrophic last encounter, but there is more to the story of Bertha and Edward's disastrous union-much, much more. A respectful look at Bronte's characters through their own eyes, The First Mrs. Rochester and Her Husband reveals how the Rochesters live in those shady years between leaving Jamaica and Jane's arrival at Thornfield Hall. Removed from the lush tropical garden she loved as a child and confined to a single room, Bertha struggles to understand the losses of her past and why she is hated and feared by her husband. Meanwhile, Edward crisscrosses Europe, seeking happiness but finding only failed affairs and painful truths. He grows inured to his despair and dissatisfaction until an unusual young woman joins his household and reminds him of the man he had hoped to become. A reckless plan to commit bigamy results in tragedy for everyone around him, and Edward-humbled physically and spiritually-must at last own his mistakes and strive to make peace with himself.