Now in its 12th year, the One Book One Island community reading project is distributing free copies of the book TransAtlantic, by Collum McCann, at island businesses. Beginning March 9 there will be nine days of free events related to the book’s themes and characters.

The acclaimed and award-winning novel spans continents, leaps across centuries, and weaves together real and fictional characters. McCann’s story follows Alcock and Brown setting a course for Ireland as they attempt the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1919. Frederick Douglass who finds the Irish people sympathetic to the abolitionist cause in 1845 as famine ravages the country. And, U.S. Senator George Mitchell who departs for Belfast in 1998 to shepherd Northern Ireland’s peace talks. These three crossings are connected by a series of remarkable women whose personal stories are caught up in the swells of history.

Pick up a free book at:

• Annye’s Whole Foods
• Nantucket Atheneum
• Nantucket Historical Association main office
• Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror
• Saltmarsh Senior Center

The book supply runs out quickly and readers are asked to please return their copy to the Atheneum or pass it on to a friend when they have finished.

Free One Book One Island Events

FRIDAY, MARCH 9        5 – 7 pm
Exhibit: “Shades of Emerald,”
Artists Association Johnson Gallery, 19 Washington St.
Ongoing until March 17 (closed Sunday)

SUNDAY, MARCH 11     3:30 to 7 pm
Ceili on! Family fun event – live Irish music, Irish dance instruction, and an Irish chocolate shop. Hosted by Irish Rambles
The Muse, 44 Surfside Rd.

MONDAY, MARCH 12   5:30 pm 
Skype™ interview: U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, Northern Ireland mediator Dreamland Theater, 17 South Water St.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13   10 am & 5:30 pm
Transatlantic Book Discussion
Morning session: led by Molly Anderson and Lisa Lazarus
Sherburne Commons, 40 Sherburne Commons Ln.
Evening Session: Led by Molly Anderson and Sheryll Reichwein
Community School Parlor, 56 Center St.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14     11:30 am
Afternoon Tea & Movie – “The Quiet Man”
Hosted by Irish Rambles for Elder Ramblers
The Nantucket Hotel, 77 Easton St.
Please register for this event by calling 508-901-0010

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14     5:30 pm
Skype™ interview with author Colum Mccann
Dreamland Theater, 17 South Water St.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15  12 pm
NHA “Food for Thought” Belfast: Peace, Now  What? – A Screening and Conversation Filmmaker John Stanton
Whaling Museum, 15 Broad St.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15  5:30  pm
INSIGHTS Presentations and Discussion:  Frederick Douglass in Ireland, Dr. Christine Kinealy.  The Irish Famine with Dr. Catherine Shannon
Whaling Museum, 15 Broad St.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16  5:30 pm
Concert: “From Newfoundland to New Found Freedom: An evening of Irish and African American Music”
African Meeting House, 29 York St.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 FAMILY EVENT  10 am
Children’s Irish Story Time (ages 3 to 5)
Hosted by Irish Rambles
Bookworks, 25 Broad St.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18     3 to 5 pm
ONE BOOK ONE ISLAND FINALE
Join fellow readers for a celebration – refreshments, music, step/set dance with audience participation, Irish – American comedian Kevin Flynn, videos, and Irish craft station and displays of Irish art and objects.
The Nantucket Hotel, Ballroom, 77 Easton St.

ONGOING
Irish films at the Atheneum:  Fri. 1/26 at 7 pm “Waking Ned Devine;” Wed. 2/7/ at 7 pm “Ondine;” Sat. 2/17 at 3 pm “Into the West” (for families); Wed. 3/7 at 7 pm “The Wind That Shakes the Barley.”

Irish Craft Stations – Fri. 3/9 to Sun. 3/18 at the Artists Association (24 Amelia Dr.), Atheneum (1 India St.), Community School (56 Center St.), Saltmarsh Center (83 Washington St.). March 9 – 18, days and hours vary.

For more event information please visit nantucketatheneum.org.

A Special Thank You to our sponsors

ONE BOOK ONE ISLAND 2018 is made possible by grants from Nantucket Island Resorts, the Tupancy-Harris Foundation, The Nantucket Hotel, Hale Family Foundation together with the financial and staff support of Annye’s Whole Foods, Egan Maritime Institute*, Maria Mitchell Association*, Mitchell’s Book Corner, Museum of African American History, Nantucket Artists Association, Nantucket Arts Council, Nantucket Atheneum,* Nantucket Bookworks, Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Community Foundation, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Conservation Foundation*, Nantucket Dept. of Culture & Tourism, Nantucket Dreamland Theater, Nantucket Historical Association,*  Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum, and Nantucket Preservation Trust.*

*Founding Sponsor