“Most of the civil war books I’ve read focused on the land battles. This lively book, ‘To The Uttermost Ends of the Earth,’ (by Phil Keith with Tom Clavin. Hanover Square Press 2022) however, recounts how for 14 months the USS Kearsarge chased the CSS Alabama, the South’s most destructive commerce raider, ‘to the uttermost ends of the earth.’ Raphael Semmes commanded the Alabama. His former cabin mate and friend John Wilcox commanded the Kearsarge. The fiery showdown between the two ships and the captains took place off the coast of Cherbourg, France in 1864, with private boats and hundreds of spectators watching from the seaside cliffs. International intrigue, a suspenseful narrative, and historic figures make this an entertaining, enlightening book.” — DEWEY METEER, Nobleboro

Mainers, please email to tell us about the book on your bedside table. In a paragraph or two, describe the book and be sure to tell us what drew you to it. What makes it a can’t-miss read for the rest of us? As the days grow colder, and the cozy reading season begins, we want to hear what you are reading and why. Send your selection to pgrodinsky@pressherald.com, and we may use it as a future Bedside Table.