BETHEL – Maine author Neil Rolde of York, who penned 10 books, including “The Interrupted Forest,” “The Baxters of Maine” and “An Illustrated History of Maine,” was the speaker at the spring lecture in the 2008 Bethel Historical Society Series, “Maine History: Varied and Vivid” on June 12.

Rolde’s topic was “The Enigma of James G. Blaine” and his appearance was made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.

Rolde served as an assistant to Gov. Kenneth Curtis and as a member of the Maine House of Representatives for 16 years.

He received his undergraduate education at Yale and earned a master’s degree from the Columbian University School of Journalism.

He is the recipient of the Neal W. Allen Award for “outstanding contributions in the field of Maine history and genealogy” from the Maine Historical Society.

In 2005, he received the Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities Prize from the Maine Humanities Council for extraordinary contributions to the interpretations of Maine history and his encouragement of the humanities in Maine.

Rolde’s interest in Blaine developed from his years of serving Curtis and spending time at the Blaine House, home of Maine governors since Carl Milliken moved there shortly after World War I.

The experience led him to complete a biography of Blaine last year, titled “Continental Liar from the State of Maine: James G. Blaine.”

Rolde observed that Blaine never served Maine as governor. In the public mind, Rolde said, his name has been associated with Maine gubernatorial officeholders since 1919 when his former home became the official residence of governors.

The association with Maine governors was a 20th century phenomenon occurring long after Blaine’s death in 1893.

Rolde examined Blaine’s popular appeal and his political legacy for present and future generations. He noted that Blaine and his successors kept Maine in the Republican column most of the time from the Civil War until the rise of the Democratic party in the 1950s under the leadership of Edmund S. Muskie.

For more information about the society and its activities, call 824-2908 or 800-824-2910, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.bethelhistorical.org.