Maine's largest city is celebrated in this concise narrative history, abundantly illustrated, with a lengthy and informative timeline of key events, and featuring two dozen biographical profiles of important Portland people."Who knew so many surprises could await a reader? Destroyed by four nations, birthplace to both national heroes and villains, burned, reborn, and still building anew in the twenty-first century, one of America's most surprising small cities comes to life in this bright, brisk history." --Rep. Herb Adams, historian and Maine State Legislator