25 Roxbury Street, Keene. N.H. 03431 (603) 499-6500
Oct. 15
2008
by J.S. Winter
When the 22-year-old daughter of Vaudeville star Lillie Langtree is found dead at the foot of the Black Precipice on Mount Monadnock, the Jaffrey police chief dismisses it as an unfortunate accident. But Ishmael Smith, the recently retired Boston chief of detectives, believes foul play was involved. With his brother Zeke, a reporter for the Boston Transcript, they launch an investigation that includes writers Mark Twain and Robert Frost, prize fighter Jim Johnson, Boston Red Sox pitcher Smoky Joe Wood, painter Abbott Thayer, a man who writes as a woman, two college professors looking for a lost Thoreau manuscript and a host of others. They explore Pumpelly Cave, the Dublin Art Colony and the Halfway House hotel looking for clues.
288 pages, 5 1/2 by 8 1/2, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-9795067-5-8
Aug. 15
2008
Grace Brown's Love Letters (2nd edition)
edited by Craig Brandon
Our 2006 best-seller, produced for the Gillette centennial, is augmented by the addition of Grace Brown's 1902 personal diary in which she talks about her work, her boyfriends and her teacher, Maud Crumb. Readers can get to know the victim in the famous American Tragedy case a little more intimately through this volume of her writings. Every word of the original correspondence between Chester Gillette and Grace along with period photos of the places they mentioned. Included are photos of some of the actual letters.
96 pages, 8 1/2 by 11 large format, illustrated throughout, $19.95 ISBN 978-0-9795067-3-4
Spring
2009
Chester Gillette: Adirondack Murderer
By Craig Brandon
After 100 years, the definitive book about the famous American Tragedy murder case of 1906 can be written. Based on dozens of pieces of important new evidence, including Chester Gillette's recently found diary, Grace Brown's 1902 diary, recently unearthed newspaper records, the location of the murder weapon and research by dozens of scholars around the world, this is the last word on the case. Loaded with photos and illustrations, many of them not available for a century, this is the book to have for the thousands of people interested in this story.
384 pages, 6 by 9 format, soft cover trade binding, over 250 illustrations, $24.95 ISBN 978-0-9795067-6-5
Summer
2009
New Hampshire Historical Markers and Their Stories
By Richard Marville
The state's 200 history lessons by the side of the road don't tell the whole story. Richard Marville fills in the blanks with anecdotes and tales about the people, places and incidents that the state has considered important enough to erect steel markers in commemoration. There are 200 stories here spanning the state from north to south, making up the rich heritage that the state has to offer. This book will be of interest to tourists, residents and social studies teachers.
288 pages, 6 by 9 format, with 200 photos, $19.95.
2009
Annals of the Grand Monadnock
By Allen Chamberlain
The original history of Mount Monadnock, written by the man who hiked it, skied it and explored it for over 30 years and played a major role in its preservation. Using the research he did on the original owners of the area during his preservation efforts, Chamberlain describes the mountains history and lore. The book contains period photographs and notes. This new edition, a reprint of the original 1936 edition, includes a biography of Chamberlain and his efforts to preserve Monadnock. A portion of the sale of each book will go to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Surry Cottage Books, 25 Roxbury Street, Keene, N.H. 03431 603-499-6500