Set on a Penobscot Bay island, this sprawling new novel follows the lives of a dozen islanders and their families through tragedy, change, and triumph in a world that isn t as isolated as it once may have seemed. Although the story begins just after World War II, it is remarkably current as it explores timeless island themes: the subtle tensions (and attractions) between islanders and summer people, the special dynamics of island life, the inevitable competition for lobsters, and how an island community adjusts to change. Charles McLane is a longtime student of Maine island life and history, and his story has the authenticity only a writer who knows his subject can bring to a work of fiction. A professor emeritus in Government