Brilliant Beacons: A History of the American Lighthouse [Paperback]

A fascinating incidental history of the U.S&War and peace, economic boom and bust, technocratic muddles and political power-plays all come under his scrutiny, with illuminating, Fresnel-worthy results.A splendid history&[This magnificent compendium is a paean to the buildings that guided safe passage for the economic prosperity of a young nation with huge, dangerous coastlines&Dolin is a brilliant researcher and seasoned writer, allowing this mostly chronological sweep moments to pause and eddy into all the stories bound to emerge from heroic engineering, isolation, and fortitude.While there have been a score of books on Maine lighthouses in the past few decades, this is by far the best national coverage since Francis Ross HollandsA comprehensive&survey of a romantic subject&[with] many fascinating anecdotes&Dolin has read deeply in the lighthouse literature, perusing not only the histories but presidential lighthouse correspondence, lighthouse legislation, lighthouse engineering studies, lighthouse arcana&The most vivid (illuminating) passages describe the solitary and often desolate lives of the keepers.A must-read for anyone interested in lighthouses or Americas maritime history&This history of American lighthouses is both engaging and enjoyable, whether for academics, who will not be disappointed in the thoroughness of the authors research, or for lighthouse history buffs who will enjoy its compelling narrative.A masterwork of research and storytelling&[A] fascinating ride through the rich history of lighthouses as strategic prizes in war, sources of technological innovation and inspiration for architectural ingenuity that combines grace and strength. This is a book for anyone who has gazed with awe upon the sea.Eric Jay Dolin has done an amazing job of compiling the history of American lighthouses. No other book on the topic is as detailed and well written.Eric Jay Dolin looks beyond the postcard romance of lighthouses to reveal a vibrant and lóå