The long-awaited and highly-anticipated biography of Henry Beston is now a reality.
Dr. Daniel G. Payne, a professor of English at State University of New York (SUNY) in Oneonta, has been working on the life story of the "Outermost House" author for the past several years.
Now, "Orion on the Dunes" is here.
The first event for the bio will be at the site of Henry Beston's "Chimney Farm" in Nobleboro, Maine, where Beston, best known for his Cape Cod nature classic, "The Outermost House," spent the final half of his life.
Payne and "Orion" publisher David Godine will be at Chimney Farm (617 East Neck Road in Nobleboro) on Saturday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a brief talk and reading by Payne, as well as walks to the nearby cemetery, where Beston and his wife, Elizabeth Coatsworth, are buried, and Beston's writer's shack, located in the woods between the farm and Damariscotta Lake.
On Sunday, Sept. 4, Payne, who was granted unrestricted access to the writer’s archives and conducted numerous interviews with friends and family, will hold a book signing and reading at Gulf of Maine Books, 134 Main St. in Brunswick, at 4 p.m.
According to Gary Lawless, owner of Gulf of Maine Books and caretaker of Chimney Farm, those unable to attend these events, and would like an autographed copy, can contact Gulf of Maine Books at 207-729-5083, or send email to gulfofmainebooks@gmail.com, and the bookstore will either hold it to be picked up there, or will mail it to you.
Both Lawless and Payne were interviewed for the "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" documentary film, now in production. This writer is also the producer for that film.
Payne is also scheduled for events on Cape Cod later this month, in Osterville on Sept. 16 and in Wellfleet on Sept. 17. Click here for more information.