Maine Books

The paperback History of Woolwich, Maine is available from The Woolwich Historical Society, P.O. Box 98, Woolwich, Maine 04579. This book is 355 pages with dozens of photographs. Historical facts and resident memoirs make this a great read.

This interesting and well-researched history of a small Maine town was written by members of the Woolwich Historical Society and is still available for purchase from them.

If you want to know what happened to the Maine, read this book. There's a little historical background, but not the hundreds of pages that some authors devote to this subject.

It deals mostly with the "nuts and bolts" of the explosion and what caused it.

The story of the U.S.S. Maine and the disaster it encountered has been written many times. The tragic loss of 266 lives was blamed on a mine, and it was a partial cause of the Spanish-American war. Admiral Rickover's couriosity was tickled by a newspaper article, which indicated that the original Court of Inquiry ivestigating the cause of the explosion and destruction of the ship had some peculiar irregularities involved. The Court did not call on existing experts in explosions and mines to testify or examine the available evidence, and the ship's captain who might have been responsible was allowed to attend all court sessions and question witnesses. Admiral Rickover assembled a team of historians and explosions experts to examine all original records and evidence to form his own picture of what happened in the light of modern day knowledge of explosions. The book is the rsult of his team's work, and the first, and so far only, work that has dealt accurately with the technical aspects of the ship loss. All his team members were competent in their field, drawn from Navy experts, and there can be no doubt that his finding that the cause of the explosion was internal and purely accidental is accurate. His book is the definitive verdict on the story, and it is presented very clearly, even the technical details are explained so a layman can understand them, although not proven in the sense that scioentists would demand. From a purely scientific point of view, the reader will have to believe in the expertise of Admiral Rickover and his team. But who is to doubt the father of the nuclear submarine?

Excellent for my summer program! It should teach children to be proud to be from the state of Maine. It also teaches children to be proud of their heritage, no matter what it is. We have Coon cats visiting us at the library. I can't seem to find any information about the author and would like to know more about her, where she is from etc. We have other books by her and are certainly keeping them as I see they are out of print.

This childrens' book about the life of a sea-going Maine Coon Cat should be in the library of everybody who loves Maine Coons. Delightful illustrations and lovely story.

If a Man Be Mad by Harold Maine is no light read. This 1947 autobiography of an alcoholic is a journey into a world of desperation and hopelessness. From his beginnings as a troubled youth to his eventual employment as an orderly in a psychiatric institution, Maine carries the reader through a saga of addiction and insanity, both on the behalf of the author and on behalf of society at large.

There are several perspectives one can take while reading this book. The clinical perspective is derived from Maine's surprise and disgust with the unorthodox treatment of the mentally ill within state and privately funded institutions. Specifically during the time Maine was admitted into these facilities, the main method of controlling the compulsions of the insane and addicted was incarceration and abandonment. Once inside the gates, patients were subjected to abuse on behalf of sadistic orderlies, looking for a punching bag and an outlet for anger, and egomaniacal doctors, determined to discover the concoction of medication and discipline that would ultimately cure the illness, at the expense of the patients' health and what little sanity they were clinging to.

Beyond the clinical perspective is the philosophical narrative of Maine's own descent into insanity, a gateway opened through drink. During Maine's bouts with instability, he was able to act as an outside observer at the same time his actions were out of control. He held a degree of detachment that allowed him to intelligently note when his behavior was dangerous, when he was hallucinating or when he was behaving criminally and unethically, yet he had no power to stop himself. His memory of events and dialogues throughout his various ordeals is incredibly vivid and astute, despite his revolving in and out of drunken stupors.

Maine's personal struggle with the shifting divisions between reality and madness provide a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an artist. This is not the type of story one plows through in one sitting and dismisses. Maine provides the type of content that must be digested in pieces, contemplated, and meditated upon. To accept anything at face value does an injustice to those suffering from mental illness. Maine possesses a gift in his ability to decipher the many facets of personality and the origin of a person's motivations.

As he notes that most of the names within his autobiography have been changed, Harold Maine is actually the pseudonym for the author Walker Winslow. However, to retrieve much information on the true identity of this mysterious and private author is difficult. I was able to dig up another psychiatry related nonfiction release entitled The Menninger Story, published in 1956 by Doubleday. A novel, Man in Paradise, was published in 1941 by Smith and Durrell. Through the accounts of his writing in If a Man Be Mad, we know that he had various pieces published by magazines, but many of these were also published under pseudonyms. I found an article titled "A Lesson from History," but digging up the actual text has proved to be a challenge. If anyone can provide me with any more information on this intellectual, I would be very appreciative.

If a Man be Mad...there couldn't have been a more appropriate title for this gem hidden amidst the American literature. Walker Winslow, writing as Harold Maine, had written this fascinating book while living in Big Sur, at a time when other great writers, such as Henry Miller resided nearby. Whether it was Winslow's gift or the proximity of some of the greatest in modern American literature, Mr. Winslow has achieved what only but a few writers are capable of. He shook my world.
Comprised of two separated books, before and after, shall we say, the story follows Winslow on his quest to find himself. A man torn apart from early childhood, he struggles not only with his own shadows, but also with the society at large; mainly its arrogance and ignorance, lack of understanding and its unwillingness to change its ways, no matter how wrong they may be. Writing in first-person, Winslow recounts stories of men and women on both sides of the fence separating the insane from the sane, yet, he clearly portrays the malicious nature of the so-called sane, which the insane are incapable of. At times a psychological thriller, at times a downright horror, a human horror, the story moves swiftly away from childhood innocence to the first day in mental institution. An alcoholic, but above all, a vulnerable human being, Winslow experiences his first awakening -- the institutions are not meant to cure people, they are merely put in place to prevent them from being free. From the inhuman indifference the guards and caretakers display without any regard for the patients, to the accounts of brutal beatings when a patient gets out of hand, Winslow portrays his first stay at a mental institution with cruel honesty. When he gets out, uncured, yet a changed man, he goes from institution to institution. Touched by death more than once, Winslow recounts his hopes after discovering AA and his first pleasant experience at a hospital in NY, where the staff seems to care, giving the reader hope that the world is perhaps not as screwed up as it appears.
Bouncing between near-death incidents, (brought about by his drinking), marriages, divorces, struggle to be the artist he wants to be (not the artist he has to be to get paid), schizophrenia and consciousness, Winslow walks a dangerously thin line. When he tries his luck on the other side, whether to help himself or others, as an attendant in one of the dreaded institutions, he discovers that the whole system is flawed. His descriptions of the inhuman treatment of veterans returning from the war seemed almost unbelievable, until the recent scandal regarding a VA hospital broke out. It is sad to see that 60 years after this book was published, we, as a society, are still doomed by the same mistakes.
Without spoiling anything for the reader, Walker Winslow's story may not be unique in its core, but it is a uniquely told story. I have never read another book quite like this one; so poetic, so disturbing, so timeless. A mad man's account of the mad gathering we call civilization, a cry for help lost amidst the applause for politicians, a light of hope lost in the darkness. If a Man be Mad is a story worth reading over and over, for it does not get old, it does not get boring, it does not cease to disturb. One man's humanity against Humanity at large, philosophy, psychology and drama -- mixed together in a deadly cocktail of words -- bled onto the pages by an amazing author.

David Becker has written a wonderfully comprehensible book about a subject that is very broad. To be able to discuss so well such a variety of printmaking techniques, styles and skills over a long period of time is no easy task. He detects and explains commonalities when that is warranted, but does not stretch the point to fit the title of the book. The book is thoughtful and appreciative but not chauvinistic. It is also readable while being scholarly. The color illustrations are beautiful and true. This is a great book for anyone who cares about printmaking, Art history or Maine.

While THE IMPRINT OF PLACE: MAINE PRINTMAKING 1800-2005 would initially seem to be of very narrow regional interest, in reality it deserves a place in the holdings of any art library collection strong in printmaking representations. It represents a catalog celebrating some 200 years of printmaking with a large collaborative fine-arts project embracing a series of exhibitions and education programs, and as such provides the first chronological survey of the subject, standing as well alone as it does with the exhibit.

My wife an I are are thinking about relocating when we retire, and this book has made us think that Portland, ME is a place we should condider moving to. It has been instrumental in not only peaking our interest in the area but also in helping us organise a look see visit this summer. I highly recommend it.

This book is an excellent guide to Maine's largest city and its surrounding area. Unlike THE INSIDERS' GUIDE TO THE MAINE COAST, this one actually has information on local radio stations, in addition to the lowdown on Bull Moose Music and the Maine Mall, so it gives you a complete picture on how to keep your promise to your significant other regarding dance-music choices and purchases. Moreover, like the book on the Maine Coast, this one includes some ideas on where to get in shape for your significant other and/or your favorite celebrity. Overall, this is a book no one going to the Maine Coast can afford to be without.

Peter Longerich's well researched and clearly written study, The Unwritten Order: Hitler's Role in the Final Solution, is a highly readable, scholarly work setting forth the direct evidence of Hitler's pivotal role in the genesis of the Holocaust. Longerich makes clear that Hitler's role was central, despite their being no written order. As head of the German state, because of fear of international repercussions, and due to considerations of German public reaction, Hitler maintained his distance and silence regarding his direct role in the top secret project of the destruction of the European Jews. This has led to postwar controversies about the degree of Hitler's knowledge and approval of the annihilation of the European Jews. The purpose of Longerich's work is to show that, despite stringent efforts and much burning of documents at the end of the war, there is ample evidence to demonstrate conclusively that Hitler was well aware of the Holocaust and that it happened in consequence of his direct wishes.
Longerich's book is more than a satisfactory introduction to this important subject. But, for those wishing to learn more about Hitler and the Holocaust, several other serious studies should be read: Christopher Browning, The Origins of the Final Solution; Gerald Fleming, Hitler and the Final Solution, Philippe Burrin, Hitler and the Jews, and the relevant chapters of Ian Kershaw's two volume biography of Hitler. These books are all carefully researched and written by competent and renowned professional historians.

I bought this book as a follow-up on the David Irving-Deborah Lipstadt trial. Professor Lipstadt listed it, I believe, in the bibliography of her book on that same trial. Longerich was called as a special witness, along with Robert Jan Van Pelt. This book, to me, as a student of the Holocaust, is amazing.

There is NO single document in which Hitler orders the Final Solution. Deniers use that to say that Hitler did not know about the Final Solution and even tried to stop it. Dr. Longerich traces the long, fragmented, documentary route of Hitler's thought on the subject and how the Third Reich functioned to prove beyond a doubt that Hitler did indeed know and was definitely in charge.

This book will clear up any doubt that one might have on the subject. Along with this book, I would recommend to the serious student of Holocaust Studies the following:
1)The Holocaust on Trial by Guttenplan
2) History of Trial by Lipstadt
3) Lying About History by Evans
All this will give the reader a more complete picture of the responsibility of the Historian to report history in an objective way.

See northern Maine life in the late 1800's, early 1900's through pictures by Isaac Simpson and stories by his son, Millard Simpson: farming, blacksmithing, lumbering, railroads, the building of the Great Northern Paper Company in East Millinocket and more. A valuable documentation of life in northern Maine at the turn of the century.

An excellent book, especially if your interested in turn of the century photography and living in Northern Maine

After reading Annie Garrett's "After You", I went in search of other books set on the coast of Maine. Luckily, I happened to pick up this book by Amy Belding Brown at the library and absolutely loved it! The main character, Allison, is an endearing, down-to-earth individual who refuses to be true to her feelings after meeting the potential love of her life, Brent. Brent knows exactly how he feels for Allison the moment he meets her and tries his hardest to sweep her off her feet with his good looks and charm. Allison is also engaged to be married to the wealthy, handsome, yet controlling, Cabot. The descriptions of her intense emotions toward Brent are so vivid and romantic. The scenery description is also very pleasant. I will definately read this novel again!

The book starts out as Allison engaged to the so called perfect man. She goes to an island with Martha, a friend of hers. She meets a guy who gave up a promising career to have a simple life. The book is fantastic. Sparks shoot whenever they are together. She finds out what her fiance' is really like and things change.Amy Belding Brown is a great author. I want to read more of her books.

Edward Ives became interested in a ballad entitled "The Plain Golden Band." It was a popular ballad in the northeast and Canada's maritime provinces. Ives began hearing stories about the song's writer, and he began a research project to find out more information on Joe Scott. What's remarkable about this book is that Scott had died long before Ives had met him and Scott wasn't particularly famous. Consequently, Ives used oral history interviews and folklore study to discover a wealth of information about Joe Scott. This biography is such a vivid portrait of the singer that I felt that I had met him personally after reading this wonderful book.

This book is one of the best biographies of a musician that I have ever read. What is especially interesting, is that the musician was virtually unknown, and I have never even heard any of this musician's works. Yet, I came away from this book with a profound appreciation for Joe Scott and an even deeper appreciation for Edward Ives's writing abilities. Ives uses fieldwork techniques from folklore studies and oral history research to develop a life-history of Joe Scott, a ballad-maker and ballad-singer who was previously known only for penning a tune known only within a small northeastern region. Ives completes thorough research on Scott's life, pulling together information from obscure sources and from the commonplaces of local memory. He develops an in-depth biography in which he places Scott's musical creativity within the context of an interesting life. Ives not only demonstrates ways to glean fascinating insights from snippets of information but he also provides an incredibly interesting presentation of the results of his finding and conclusions. His conclusions about artistry, poetry, and creativity are intriguingm, and they are backed by credible and well-reasoned arguments. Ives is a first-rate writer, and the story that he tells about Joe Scott is reads like a first-rate novel.