THIS TRIFLING DISTINCTION

Unparalleled tall tales and heroes wander freely through this collection of John Gould's "reminiscences" of life in Maine. Here you'll find stories of unlicensed Maine guide Flint Johnson and his group of Yankees and Red Sox ball players, the time L.L. Bean invited the whole town of Freeport to help him choose the best ax, and Gould's grandfather's claim to have fired the shot that started the Battle of Gettysburg. Gould does not wish his memories to be in any way taken as an autobiography, but rather they are intended to convey just how much fun he has had living and writing in Maine.