The Stranger in the Woods

In 1986, a 20-year-old Maine man named Christopher Knight left behind his life and family and disappeared into the woods. He made his home in a secluded area of forest in the state’s central region and did not have a conversation with another human being for nearly three decades. Knight burglarized nearby cottages for supplies and managed to survive New England’s harsh winters. He was a ghost, a presence felt but not seen, and in the area around the town of Albion, where he lived, he became known as the “North Pond Hermit.” Some admired his ingenuity; others were terrified of him.

Then, in April 2013, Knight was finally arrested. As his remarkable story came to light, the man who’d so intentionally left to be on his own was thrust into the spotlight. Hundreds of journalists tried to get access to Knight, but only one, Michael Finkel, ended up earning his trust. In his new book, The Stranger in the Woods (Alfred A. Knopf), Finkel tells Knight’s story while also exploring bigger topics of isolation, solitude, and living an authentic life.

On March 13, 2017, Finkel visited Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to discuss his book as a featured guest of the Portsmouth Music Hall’s “Writers in the Loft” series. Following a presentation of his work, Finkel sat down with Yankee’s deputy editor, Ian Aldrich, in front of the audience to talk about his book, Knight, and the complicated, fascinating history of hermits. Tap on the audio file to hear a recording of their conversation.