BELFAST — Left Bank Books, in downtown Belfast, invites the public to a free talk and book signing by Maine writer Ellen Baker on Tuesday, February 25, at 6 p.m., at the bookshop. The event will celebrate the paperback release of Baker’s widely praised novel The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson.

Spanning the years between 1924 and 2015, The Hidden Life is an immersive and compelling novel steeped in family secrets and centered around a remarkable woman and her determination to survive. At age four, Cecily’s mother reluctantly drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago, promising to return when she’s made enough money to support them both. But she never returns, and Cecily, at age seven, is sold to a traveling circus. At age ninety-four, Cecily is living a quiet life in Minnesota when her family surprises her with an at-home DNA test. The results throw into question everything about the family Cecily has raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years.

Seating for this event is limited and reservations are strongly recommended by calling the bookshop (2070-338-9009) or sending an email to: info@leftbankbookshop.com. Ample parking is available in front of the shop and in an adjacent public parking lot.