Annals of Childhood is a wonderful look back to Corinth, Maine from the 1830s to 1900s, written by Abby Jones Goodwin in 1903.
I love history, and this is a very special trip to this very special place in our state. Goodwin was 68 when she wrote this series of stories, which feature reflections from her childhood.
The stories demonstrate the lessons and love of her family and community. It’s all about the rural life, something many of us value in Maine’s small rural towns.
Goodwin was the great grandmother of Jeanne Colette Collester who wrote a wonderful forward. Jeanne hooked me with a photo of grizzly bears in Alaska, a trip she took in 2008. Been there. Seen lots of bears there! And you will love Goodwin’s bear tales too.
Martin Brown’s photos put you right there in Abby Jones Goodwin’s Corinth, and I spent a lot of time enjoying them. Brown is a Maine guide who founded Sunrise Expeditions in 1973 and leads river adventures throughout North America and the world.
Elizabeth LaForge, President of the Corinth Historical Society, noted in her introduction that “Abby Jones Goodwin’s vignettes are historically accurate, experience affirming, and provide captivating insight into the character of the pioneer inhabitants of early Corinth.”
And LaForge is right when she says that this book “is a rare treasure for our town.” But it is also a rare treasure for all of us.