Synopses & Reviews
A must for the library of every lighthouse lover . . .”
Great Lakes Seaway A remarkable work of literature filled with the vast spirit and endless
mystery of great waters and those who work upon them.”
Homer Hickam, author of October Sky and The Keepers Son More than just another coffee-table pretty face . . . contains a wealth of information . . .”
Southern Boating Lighthouses! For more than two thousand years, these maritime beacons have marked the earths most dangerous shores, guiding ships to safety and offering hope to sailors lost at sea. Packed with information, drama, and stunning color photographs, this award-winning volume, updated and now available in paperback, is your one-stop resource for all things lighthouse-related. Look inside for:
LIGHTHOUSES THROUGH HISTORY
An in-depth look at the history of light towers, from those of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt to the Cape Hatteras tower, recently saved from destruction
A LIGHTHOUSE LEXICON
An alphabetical guide to people, places, and equipment associated with lighthouses, accentuated by accompanying illustrations
LIGHTHOUSES AROUND THE WORLD
Facts and photos of lighthouses from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Norway, Australia, and several other countries
Review
"
The Lighthouse Encyclopedia is more than a complete guide to those magnificent towers of light. It is a remarkable work of literature filled with the vast spirit and endless mystery of great waters and those who work upon them. For all of us who love lighthouses and their keepers, this is a book to be read and savored, each page as bright as the spokes of light that yet flash across the sea to guide mariners home."
--Homer Hickam, author of October Sky and The Keeper's Son
Review
"Lighthouse lovers everywhere will welcome this new fact-filled resource. As reminders of a rich maritime heritage, lighthouses need and deserve our help. This book will attract many new recruits to the cause of lighthouse preservation worldwide."
--Rosalie Davis Gibb, Chairman of the World Lighthouse Society
Synopsis
A wealth of facts and history fill this beautifully designed armchair and reference book. This single volume, packed with full-color and vintage photos, contains everything a lighthouse lover or maritime historian wants to know about lighthouse history, changing technologies, lighthouse keepers, and the lenses themselves. A detailed index of more than 150 lighthouses around the world offers quick and easy access to basic information—know the height, age, elevation, optic type and status for every lighthouse! An appendix listing lighthouse groups nationwide makes it easy to see these historic treasures, visit museums and get involved with preservation. See how the appearance or location of lights has changed over time. Read about the historical contributions made by Augustin Fresnel, Winslow Lewis and Stephen Pleasanton, and learn about breakwater lights, caissons, lightships, mercury baths, daymarks and clamshell lenses. The most complete reference book on lighthouses—which won a Benjamin Franklin book design award in hardcover—is finally available in paperback.
Ray Jones is a leading authority on lighthouses and the author of more than 14 books and countless magazine articles on American history. He lives in Pebble Beach, California.
Synopsis
Thoroughly updated and expanded with even more information on the world’s lighthouses, The Lighthouse Encyclopedia is the definitive reference on these maritime beacons and coastal icons.
A wealth of facts and history fill this beautifully designed book, packed with full-color and vintage photos, containing everything a lighthouse lover or maritime historian wants to know about lighthouse history, changing technologies, lighthouse keepers, and the lenses themselves. A detailed index of more than 150 lighthouses around the world offers quick and easy access to basic information: the height, age, elevation, optic type and status for every lighthouse! An appendix listing lighthouse groups nationwide makes it easy to see these historic treasures, visit museums and get involved with preservation.
About the Author
Ray Jones is the co-author of fourteen best-selling books about lighthouses and several other books on Americana and American history. He has served as an editor at Time-Life Books, as founding editor of Albuquerque Living magazine, writing coach at Southern Living magazine, and founder and publisher of Country Roads Press.