In The Village

Anthony Bailey's intimate look at life in Stonington borough made waves when it was published. First appearing in 1971 as a serialized version in the New Yorker, a hard-cover version was published soon thereafter. In 1992, a second paperback edition was printed locally and soon sold out. Copies are still passed hand to hand and quickly scooped up on eBay or at the Niantic Book Barn. Almost considered a rite of passage for newcomers to this small town, In the Village was not universally embraced by all of Stonington's longstanding residents. Some felt his narrative was too personal and were upset to see their characters so sharply drawn, while others thought it was perfect and were disappointed not to find themselves delineated in its pages. In 2020, Bailey gave his blessing to a third "anniversary" edition. Bailey had recently undergone a hip surgery and while recovering he would soon fall ill with what was then a new coronavirus. Geoffrey Little, a locally-based consultant and writer