Maine folklore is rich in tales of humans confronted by strange beasts, both wonderful and terrifying. The Abenaki, or “First People” had their tales of Glooskap and Pamola. Other tales came with European settlers; and others sprang up almost out of nothing around the fires of the logging camps. Based on meticulous research into these legends and folk tales, this volume is an encyclopedia, a field guide to the creatures that can be found in Maine and beyond. While the tales are whimsical and fun, they can also be considered serious scholarship.

“THIS is not a scholarly book in the pedantic sense nor is it intended to be one. Neither is it a complete collection of Maine folklore. Rather, it is a selection of tales, beliefs, superstitions, songs, and customs of people of English-speaking stock in Maine. It is a book that attempts to give illustrations of most of the major aspects of folklore that are, or have been within the last twenty years, extant in the state.”—Horace P. Beck, Introduction “There is no dearth of folklore in the little state of Maine. This book has placed some important examples of folklore into their historical contexts. A diversified sampling is given and we are surprised to learn how much of folklore is a disguise or an exaggeration of the real past.”—Kirkus Review

Maine has a rich supernatural history and ghost stories from the state are as varied as they are prolific. Freelance writer and reporter Tom Verde first became interested in such eerie occurrences while researching first-hand encounters with ghosts for a series of public radio programs. This book recounts some of the spine-tingling tales he uncovered in his research, including: •The dagger-wielding shade who terrorized a Portland couple •The murdered Indian who revisited Means’s Tavern •Famed diva Lillian Nordica, whose voice still echoes through the Farmington auditorium named in her honor •The hostile spirit who tried to frighten the tenants out of an Orrington house •Even an entire phantom ship, bound eternally for Freeport These are not fictitious creations of literary imagination. People from all walks of life—including many who were positive they would never believe in ghosts—attest to these encounters.

The dark woods of Maine have been the setting for many eerie and unexplained events, none more captivating than sightings of a giant hominid known as Bigfoot. But what makes this corner of New England such a perfect place for this cryptid to live? Learn about the ecology and geography that support the legend and meet the people forever changed by close encounters with it. From previously unpublished eyewitness accounts to modern-day media portrayals, author and illustrator Michelle Souliere presents this detailed history of the phenomenon and folklore that has lurked in shadows for generations.

Maine is well known as a land of fresh air and clean water, as the home of L.L. Bean and as one of the most popular camping and outdoor recreation destinations in the country. But what lies behind this idyllic facade? Unmapped roads. Whispering rocks. Deadening fog. Ghost pirates. Lonely islands. THINGS in the woods. This is the great state of Maine, home of Stephen King, land of the Great Northern Woods and all the mystery that lies within their dark footprint. What better setting than this for tales of strange creatures, murderers, madmen and eccentric hermits? From the "Headless Halloween of 1940" to the mystery of who lies in the grave of V.P. Coolidge; from Bigfoot sightings to the "witch's grave" in a Portland cemetery, writer and illustrator Michelle Souliere brings to life these strange-but-true tales from the Pine Tree State.

Forgotten somewhere between Bar Harbor, Maine, and New Brunswick, Canada, lies the most remote and mysterious section of the Eastern Seaboard. It is a region rich in stark beauty—and supernatural lore. The harsh landscape, with its rocky seaside cliffs and thundering surf and miles of dark, mysterious forest farther inland, lends itself to the ghost story. Overlaying the ghost tales gathered in this book is a sense of unspeakable horror and malice.

Stories From Maine is a collection of incredible and interesting stories, which include the lore and legends usually omitted from history all told in narrative form.

From Material Compiled By The Maine Writers' Research Club.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own. “A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.” —The Wall Street Journal In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.