Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is excited to invite you to an author talk with Hilary Bartlett, author of “The Thistle Inn: A Wee Bit of Scotland in Maine.”

The talk will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. on the library lawn; in the event of rain the talk will be moved inside with limited, first come, first served seating. Hope for clear skies!

Hilary E. Bartlett was born and raised in Liverpool, England. When the Beatles first played at the Cavern she was there. Hilary studied microbiology at University College London, where she received her doctorate. She came to Midcoast Maine in the 1970s to work on toxic red-tides and was based at Bigelow Lab. Her intention was to return to London but Boothbay Harbor bewitched her and she never left. She lived opposite the Thistle Inn during the ’70s and made life-long friends at the back corner table of the pub.

Hilary changed careers after she became a mother and started a home-based art business. Her reputation as an artist is well established and her ink paintings have won awards. “The Thistle Inn” is her first book.

Book descriptions

“Colorful tales of the Thistle Inn paint a vivid portrait of a Maine fishing village during the 1960s and ’70s. When shrimp boats filled the harbor, martinis were less than two dollars and famous actors, musicians and ballplayers dropped by. Photos and vintage menus spice up the pages, plus the secret ingredient for the Thistle’s Downeast steak is finally revealed.

“Boothbay locals that frequented The Thistle Inn during the Leonie/T’Donald years who read this highly entertaining book of tales — those that could be printed, anyway — will smile, laugh, and remember when. The rest of us will read it, smile, laugh . . . and wish to God we remembered it too!” — Lisa Kristoff, Boothbay Register

“My wife and I wrote weekly travel columns for 7 years, and loved Boothbay Harbor, but I had no idea of the fascinating history of the Thistle Inn until I read this book. And you will love all the interesting stories of the inn’s owners and guests, especially the patrons in the bar.” — George Smith, award-winning journalist and Maine author