Beacon on the Rock: The Dramatic History of Lighthouses from 1600 to the Present Day

Beacon on the Rock tells the enchanting history of the lighthouse, including stories of human skill, endeavour and indefatigable resolve in the face of the physical, emotional and mental obstacles of the ocean. Following the rapid developments in technology that transformed candle chandeliers into the solar-powered lights used today, detailed illustrations demonstrate the constructions of these lighthouses, while stunning photographs display their enduring impact. Entwined in this history are tales of the people who played a role in the development of the lighthouse, of the heroic men and women that risked their lives to help drowning mariners in tumultuous seas, family accounts of storms, fires and collisions, and anecdotes of seafarers and lighthouse keepers that reveal what life is truly like on the ocean. Equally as captivating as these people are the places on which these beacons stand. This book brings the drama and the dreams to life by tracing the construction of lighthouses all over the globe, from Antarctica to Australia, from Ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire. Beacon on the Rock evokes the romance, the intrigue and the courage of the lighthouse era, and explores the possibility of these monolithic structures remaining as tributes to man's bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.