First published in 1930, Roberts' rousing adventure tale recounts the gallant story of Benedict Arnold's doomed march on Quebec in 1775. Seen through the eyes of the young Steven Nason, a soldier in the Continental Army from the town of Arundel, the reader shares the grueling journey up the Kennebec River and overland through the vast and wild North Woods. It is a moving story of a boy's passage to manhood, encompassing both the lore of the native peoples of the region and the beauty and vastness of the great untouched North Woods.

Receiving high critical praise upon it's publication 75 years ago, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote "Arundel" is a novel to defy the years.

Copies of the novel are available at the public library. Dexter is scheduling two programs around the reading of the book. On Friday, March 11 Sanford Phippen will present a program that examins both Kenneth Roberts' life and work. On March 23, David Richards of the Margaret Chase Smith Library will examine the placement of Roberts' book within the history of Maine and the country as a whole.

Other area libraries particpating in the communitywide reading program include : Guilford Memorial Library, Piscataquis Community High School, Monson Public Library, Thompson Free Library in Dover, Shaw Public Library in Greenville and the Sangerville Public Library. The program is being funded by a grant from the Piscataquis County Fund administered by the Maine Community Foundation. For more information, please call the library at 924-7292.