The Maine Prints –

To be honest, this is really more a lavish catalog than a proper book. It is currently in its seventh edition and contains 138 stunning full-page plates of Peter’s most select Maine work. This edition also contains a Wyeth section with seven plates depicting Andrew and/or Jamie Wyeth. Measuring 12 x 12 inches, the 162-page book also contains a very telling biographical essay about Peter by renowned Maine art curator, impresario and collector, Bruce Brown. Printed on demand, Ralston Gallery sells The Maine Prints at our cost of $185 (plus shipping), each copy being signed by Peter with personalized inscriptions gladly provided.

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

By Heather Cox Richardson

This remarkable book by my dear and special friend was, immediately upon publication, high on the NY Times Best Seller list (for ages) and I believe that it is currently in its tenth printing……it’s that good and that important. The way Heather summarized it for me in the gallery when she was just starting to write the book is that the first half would be about how we got into the mess we’re in today and the second half would address how she sees us rising above the current maelstrom. If you have not read it and if you are interested in the current state of affairs, this is a must-read from America’s greatest living historian.  The book is $30 plus shipping.

If you don’t already subscribe to Heather’s daily Substack, Letters From An American, you really and truly should. Here’s the link. By the way, every once in a while Heather will take a rare night off and when she does she’ll share a photograph either from yours truly or from her visually eloquent husband, Buddy Poland. It has been a great honor to meet many of her ardent fans through this…..

Here’s a summary of the book from Shortform:

The pursuit of self-governance and equality lies at the heart of Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson. In this book, Richardson examines how the United States has continually grappled with the challenge of upholding and expanding the democratic principles outlined in its founding. She explores the historical struggles and ongoing efforts to preserve the right to vote and fair representation for all citizens despite the rise of undemocratic movements seeking to reshape American society.

Richardson also sheds light on the tactics employed by certain forces to distort historical narratives and manipulate educational institutions in order to justify an inequitable social hierarchy. The book underscores the enduring commitment to fortifying democratic values and promoting the authentic ideals of the nation's diverse population.