Seashaken Houses cover art

Seashaken Houses

A Lighthouse History from Eddystone to Fastnet

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Seashaken Houses

By: Tom Nancollas
Narrated by: David Monteath
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About this listen

Lighthouses are striking totems of our relationship to the sea. For many, they encapsulate a romantic vision of solitary homes amongst the waves, but their original purpose is much more utilitarian than that. Still today we depend upon their guiding lights for the safe passage of ships. Nowhere is this truer than in the rock lighthouses of Great Britain and Ireland, a ring of 19 towers built between 1811-1905, so called because they were constructed on desolate rock formations in the middle of the sea, and made of granite to withstand the power of its waves.

Seashaken Houses is a lyrical exploration of these singular towers, the people who risked their lives building and rebuilding them, those that inhabited their circular rooms, and the ways in which we value emblems of our history in a changing world.

©2018 Tom Nancollas (P)2019 Audible, Ltd Architecture Ecosystems & Habitats Europe Great Britain Maritime History & Piracy Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science World England Transportation

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All stars
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A relaxing, interesting listen with some great history. Really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended will definitely be listening again.

Brilliant

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Very informative, nicely written and an easy listen. A must if you’re interested in lighthouses and are keen to hear about other builders South and West who are not the Stevenson’s…

Very well written

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A super journey around some of the British Isles' rock lighthouses. The only criticism I have is the overtly 'pseuds corner' style in the epilogue.

Fascinating

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bowled over by this book. hooked from the first chapter, the performance is spot on, but the content, stories, history and the writing engaged me totally.

what a great surprise

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Really loved this book. Didn’t know what to expect, but the storytelling was so good, the narration was perfect and it was so interesting. Would absolutely recommend.

Exceptionally captivating

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A great book beautifully read. Full of atmosphere and not just detailed facts. I would highly recommend this.

A great book

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I'd never thought much about the history of lighthouse construction until a visit to the museum at Hynish on Tiree last year which documented the story of Skerryvor lighthouse. You can just about see this lighthouse from a high point on Tiree on a clear day but there is a large scale model in the museum which reveals what a beautiful structure it is and blows the mind as to how it was built. That experience and listening to this book has made a lasting impression on me and although I will probably never get the chance to see one up close, I think they will live in my imagination for as long as I live as symbols of the good mankind can be capable of.

A fascinating and moving book

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I really enjoyed this book, certainly one that can be listened to again quite quickly.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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bought the subject to life in a fascinating way...not what I expected and all the better for it...

Surprising and enjoyable

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I love this! Been listening to audible for years to help with insomnia and this is my new favorite! Stories of cold weather beaten buildings and the people who built them. Just the right amount of information (not bombarded with names and dates) and beautiful prose. Highly recommended...

Perfect!

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