The Lighthouse Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference [Hardcover]

Ray Jones (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lighthouse Series | Publication Date: January 1, 2004

Who was Augustine Fresnel? What is a clamshell lens? When was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved inland? Where were screw-pile towers used? What is a daymark?

Lighthouse lovers and anyone interested in maritime history will find the answers to these and hundreds of other questions in The Encyclopedia of Lighthouses. This one-stop resource offers an amazing wealth of information about the history of lighthouses, key people associated with lighthouses, lighthouse technology, lighthouse organizations, and specific lighthouses.

Organized in traditional encyclopedia style, this predominantly A-to-Z compendium of information allows readers to easily find the historical fact, famous lighthouse keeper, or lighthouse mechanism they are looking for and then read the pertinent details about that topic. Following is a small sampling of entries covered:

Breakwater light
Caisson
Hyper-radiant lens
Winslow Lewis
Lightships
Mercury bath
Stephen Pleasonton
Rear range light
Steamer lantern
Eclipsing light

In addition, a directory of more than 150 lighthouses throughout the world provides key data--date built, tower height, elevation, type of optic, when automated--about each lighthouse plus full details about the lighthouse's history, wartime significance, and current restoration.

Hundreds of beautiful full-color photos of the lighthouses enhance the text, and fascinating archival images of lighthouse keepers, famous lighthouses as they looked in their early years, hurricane wreckage, and other events of historic significance help bring to life the dramatic lighthouse story. Sidebars on subjects such as lighthouse preservation, lighthouse collectibles, and photographing lighthouses also enliven the main text.

This authoritative, visually lavish reference is the only one of its kind and an essential resource for anyone interested in lighthouses.

Editorial Reviews

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

"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

From the Back Cover

Lighthouses! For more than two thousand years, these maritime beacons have marked the earth's most dangerous shores, guiding ships to safety and offering hope to sailors lost at sea. Today, lighthouses themselves need saving, and people everywhere are working to preserve these beautiful and inspiring monuments to our rich maritime heritage.
Packed with information, drama, and stunning color and archival photographs, The Lighthouse Encyclopedia is your one-stop resource for all things lighthouse related. Here you'll find authoritative answers to hundreds of questions about lighthouses. And you'll read about the builders and innovators, mariners and keepers, heroes and heroines who are part of the lighthouse story.
Look inside for: Lighthouses through history an in-depth look at the history of light towers, from the Pharos in ancient Egypt to the Cape Hatteras tower recently saved from destruction; A lighthouse lexicon an alphabetical guide to the people, places, events, and ingenious equipment that make lighthouses special; Lighthouses around the world facts and photos of every lighthouse you ever wanted to visit and many you never even knew existed in eighteen different countries.
Whether you're a lighthouse lover, maritime expert, history buff, or casual reader, The Lighthouse Encyclopedia is your one-stop lighthouse reference.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762727357
• ISBN-13: 978-0762727353
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine.", November 7, 2006

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lighthouse Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference (Hardcover)

Lighthouses have fascinated me for over 60 years. Although never seriously smitten by these structures,I will always go out of my way to visit one whenever I get the chance. I grew up in Nova Scotia which seemed to have a lighthouse around every bend in the roads along the coast.They are always an excellent place to stop for a picnic lunch. I lived in New Jersey for a few years and again many lighthouses were nearby.My favorite was the Highlands Twin Lights in Navesink,which I visited often.I now live near Toronto,and my Birding trips often lead me to lighthouses which ring lakes Ontario,Erie and Huron.Other Birding trips along the East Coast ,Cape Hatteras,Southern Florida and California are continually providing new and exciting lighthouses. I have never made a list of all I've seen;but the total must be well over 100.I often thought it would be fun to photograph,or maybe even draw them as a hobby;but just never get around to getting serious about it.
So,when I come across a "Lighthouse" book,I am always interested;and there are many around.
This book is very different for several reasons.It is more than just a bunch of pretty pictures.As its title says,it is an encyclopedia.It covers many aspects of lighthouses,including,history,preservation,lots of technical information,examples from many countries,hints on photographing them as well as their present status.Of course, any one of those subjects could fill numerous books. This author alone,has written 14 books on lighthouses, so one can't expect everything about all lighthouses to be found in this one book
With that in mind,I have the following comments;
The quality of the paper,printing and overall construction of the book is top of the line.
The photographs range from mundane to excellent.This hit me as surprising.For instance Robert's photo of the Crisp Point Light on page 174 pales in comparison with his supurb photograph of the Dunkirk Light on page 177 .Again, we see the same thing with the Pigeon Point Light on page 222 and the Point Area Light on page 223.Then, we get those amazing photographs by Jean Guichard.You gotta wonder if he ever took a poor or average snapshot.Then again,I must admit ,the photo of the Peggy's Cove Light left me cold.Is this the best of the millions of photos taken of this super-famous lighthouse? Quite a few photos are attributed to magazines,the Coast Guard,Harbour Lights,etc.,which are very average.Again,there is the excellent photograph of the Port Bill Light,England ,courtesy Harbour Lights on page 235.The otherwise great shot of the Portland Head Light,on page 236, by Roberts,makes one wonder if it was Roberts or someone in the editing room who lost the top of the lighthouse.
I was also somewhat disappointed over the part on "Lighthouses around the world".There were none that I can recall from such coastline countries as Russia,China,India,Japan .

In spite of my comments,this book is an excellent resource for anyone with an interest in lighthouses. It would be a good companion to "Lighthouse Spotter's Guide" by Michael Rhein which I have already reviewed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb contribution to the growing library of lighthouse literature, February 2, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lighthouse Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference (Lighthouse Series) (Paperback)

An impressively organized and presented 288-page compendium of information, "The Lighthouse Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference" by lighthouse enthusiast and expert Ray Jones provides a wealth of information and trivia that will be especially appreciated by lighthouse fans and students of maritime history. Offering answers to hundreds of questions about lighthouses, their history, key people associated with them, lighthouse technology, lighthouse organizations, as well as specific lighthouses, "The Lighthouse Encyclopedia" truly lives up to its title. Enhanced with a literally hundreds of full-color photographs and archival images of lighthouses, sidebars addressing light house preservation, lighthouse collectibles, and tips for photographing lighthouses, "The Lighthouse Encyclopedia" is a superb contribution to the growing library of lighthouse literature and a core addition to any personal, academic, or community library reference collection on the subject.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST, November 10, 2006

By 

L.S. Baumblatt (Norwalk, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lighthouse Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference (Hardcover)

Colorful & informative. If you like or love lighthouses this book should be in your collection. If you don't, buy it, place it on your coffee table (if you don't have young children) - and let others that visit your home enjoy it.