Connecticut Characters: Profiles of Rascals and Renegades

Connecticut Characters: 101 Memorable Profiles is a collection of the most popular profiles and colorful accounts written by long-time columnist Randall Beach. His columns were written over a span of 40 years and are fondly remembered by many New Haven Register readers.

When Randall began writing the column, some of his newsroom colleagues dubbed the subjects "creep of the week" because often the subjects were so odd and eccentric.

But none of them were "creeps;" they simply had a different way of looking at the world and of living. He always strove to give them dignity along with recognition. His writings always strike an affectionate tone and are often humorous, but never mocking.

The individuals that he wrote were from all over Connecticut--well beyond the New Haven area. The collection focuses on some well-known people, such as former Yale University President A. Bartlett Giamatti, but mostly the profiles are of people, some colorful, who are part of the fabric of the state.

It's a remarkable and fascinating collection of profiles about people from all different walks of life around Connecticut.