The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses [Hardcover]

Samuel Willard Crompton (Author), Michael J. Rhein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2003

The sheer beauty of the elegant, lonely lighthouses along our shores — and their unspoiled, scenic natural settings — has captivated our collective imagination. More than simply picturesque, the lighthouse has become an enduring symbol of salvation, fortitude, and heroic folklore. The Ultimate Lighthouse Book is a panoramic, lavishly illustrated history of these legendary buildings and celebrates the rich heritage of our ancestors’ courageous efforts to guide mariners through treacherous seas and storms. Over 200 color photographs are featured in this fully revised, expanded and updated edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press; Revised edition (July 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592231020
• ISBN-13: 978-1592231027
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bright beacon . . ., February 19, 2008

By 

Steven Hedge "Movie Fan" (Somewhere "East of Eden") - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

Outstanding photographs are accompanied by interesting facts and a history of lighthouses that won't bore you to tears if you're not a lighthouse geek.

The cover picture is of Peggy Cove's lighhouse in Nova Scotia, Canada which, along with Prince Edward Island, has some of the most beautiful and unusual lighthouses in the world. Of course, this book also covers every single lighthouse station in the United States of which Portland Head in Maine is easily my favorite and where you can catch the ferry to Nova Scotia. It's a 2-3 hour ride in which you can drive your car onto the ferry and then go relax as ferry itself is luxurious with loads of entertainment. One day I'll make a lighthouse tour of the northeast and then straight on into Canada (and maybe never return).

Although I don't like water rides or actually being on the beach itself all that much, I do love the sea and the seashore. This book is a feast for the eyes with all the magnificent lighthouse locations that dot our landscape. I have looked through this book numerous times and I never tire of it. My mind is transported to another location and a bygone era whenever I open this book's pages.

Even if you only have a passing interest in lighthouses, you would enjoy this book. Now, if you are a lighthouse fanatic . . . well, what am I saying, you have this book already --LOL!!!

Sadly, many of our lighthouses are deteriorating rapidly. The United States Lighthouse Society does it's best to save these priceless beacons, but it is a race against time. I know there are far more pressing issues and causes in this world than saving lighthouses, but this is one of my personal passions. My family even knows that when I pass away, instead of flowers at my funeral, I want donations made to The United States Light house Society in my memory. They do a great work and this book reminds us of the importance of these structures. It will truly be a sad day when all that is left of these magnificent beacons of hope are the pictures in this book. Buying this book may help you appreciate these magnificent edifices whose beacons have saved numerous lives along with the men and women who at one time were the keepers of those beacons of hope and safety (most are automated now).

This is a coffee table book that is worth much more than your coffee table. You will browse through its glossy beautiful pages many times and it will always get the attention of guests in your home.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lighthouse Book, December 24, 2009

By 

Adele Margiore "great shopper" (Boca Raton, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book on lighthouses. It is detailed, with great history of the lighthouses, and the photography is excellent. The price is great for the hardcover, large book this is. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to seek information on lighthouses, or just a lover of them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for lighthouse fancier, May 7, 2010

By 

D. Kulczyk (Chicagoland, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

Our original copy of this book was ruined by a flood, but the lighthouse fancier in the house demanded that we replace it. It's THAT good, including lots of pictures and nicely worded text.