Beacon on the Rock: The Dramatic History of Lighthouses from Ancient Greece to the Present Day

Since men first ventured out on perilous journeys across the sea attempts have been made to guide them safely home again. In the face of terrible odds and in the most inhospitable and treacherous environments, human skill, resourcefulness and resolve have provided the mariner with signposts of the sea. The people who designed and built lighthouses were no less heroic than the courageous individuals who manned and maintained them.This illustrated book traces the development of lighthouses from earliest times to the present day. It covers the technological advances made in light and lens systems, and describes the extraordinary feats of design and engineering that enabled lighthouses such as Eddystone and Skerryvore to be constructed.