The Light on the Island (Collector’s Edition)
This special hard cover Collector’s Edition of the San Juan Island classic, The Light on the Island, celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the construction of the Patos Island lighthouse in 1893 where the story takes place. Helene Glidden’s unique sense of humor captures the spirit of adventure and hardships encountered by a lighthouse keeper’s large family on a remote island in the San Juan Islands from 1905 – 1913. This edition includes the missing chapter that was supposed to be in the original 1951 edition of the book but was deemed too risque at the time. It also includes a list of the lighthouse keepers, archival photos, and a research essay with a historical perspective about the story.
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Thirteen children on an island My mother read this to us 50 years ago, at night, sitting around the large stone fireplace, on our own island on the Rideau. Some themes are dated like ‘dirty Indians’ and excitable French Canadians who swear a lot but the kids have great adventures on the island and, of course, ‘God’ is there, too! There is tragedy – three of the children die and one is crippled – but lots of hilarity as well. Life as lighthouse keeper is hard work – keeping the light lit and shiny, vegetable garden, caring…
Some time on an Island
Love island life? Find out what it was like 100 years ago!