Wednesday, July 17 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Wiscasset Public Library

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 Mount Desert Island, but there were many other residents of the state aboard as well. Their tales are retold in a lively way here, along with the sinking-related events in the state at that time. Meticulously researched, this book reveals the agonizing day-to-day wait of Mainers for news of what really happened to their loved ones aboard and tells the stories of Maine passengers from their boarding to the sinking, rescue, and arrival back in the country, and, for those who did not survive, their final coming ashore in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's a unique and fascinating addition to the Titanic story and to Maine history.

About the author: A Navy veteran of the First Gulf War and former news reporter for the Bar Harbor Times, Mac Smith lives in Stockton Springs, Maine, in the village of Sandy Point, where he is restoring the family homestead. This is his first book.

What readers are saying:

“This book provides a lot of factual information and takes you inside the lives of several passengers with ties to Maine. It makes one feel a connection to those people. In spite of knowing the outcome of the fateful voyage, this book provides information of which I was not aware, especially how little time there actually was to try to get passengers off the ship and the amount of time it took for help to arrive. I found myself hoping for the survival of all, even while knowing it wouldn't happen.”

“Smith weaves the stories of these people with one of the worst disasters of the 20th century with smart crisp writing making you want to turn the page to find out if they were a survivor or a causality. Well researched, from the millionaires of the day, to the middle class and those in steerage, all became as one in this well written account.”