{"product_id":"cast-rene-lighthouses-of-france-9782080107152","title":"Lighthouses of France","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe French coast is lined with numerous magnificent, historical\n lighthouses. A handful of these are still home to lighthouse\n keepers, carrying on the tradition of a centuries-old\n profession now on the verge of extinction. This book\n recounts the lives of these keepers and their predecessors,\n and tells of the solitude, risks and perils they face every day.\n Showcasing Jean Guichard's famously dramatic photographs\n of some of France's finest lights, \u003ci\u003eLighthouses of France\u003c\/i\u003e is more\n than just a book on lighthouse history : it is also a wonderful\n photographic tribute to man's bravery and determination in\n the face of the eternal perils of the ocean.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe lighthouses of France are a proud part\n of the country's national heritage, both in\n terms of their architectural splendor and\n the stupendous feats of engineering they\n represent. The sixteenth-century tower of\n Cordouan, widely recognized as one of the\n most beautiful lighthouses in the world,\n was one of the first edifices in France to be\n classified as a historic monument, along\n with the cathedral of Notre Dame. The construction\n of La Jument or Ar-Men on rocky\n outcrops off the Brittany coast was a prodigious\n achievement in the face of the steep-est\n of odds. In building towers such as\n these, man pitted himself against the elements\n at their most savage-and won.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut the history of French lighthouses is\n also the more modest, humble story of the\n men and women who have lived and\n worked in these towers, isolated at sea for\n months on end. For centuries, they have\n battled with the sea to ensure that come\n wind, come storm, the light burns on, to\n guide sailors and fishermen back to safe\n harbor. Unlike many other countries,\n France has resisted the trend toward total\n automation, and in a handful of small ports\n and seaside towns, the lighthouse keeper is\n still a well-known and respected figure.\n René Gast's text provides a fascinating\n glimpse into the daily lives, past and present,\n of these important members of the\n community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout the book, Jean Guichard's\n iconic photographs illustrate only too well\n the fury of the Atlantic ocean and the perilous\n working conditions the lighthouse\n keepers face : eyen today at Kéréon light,\n keepers are winched down to the deck of\n the relief boat by hand, dangling from a\n rope over the crashing sea. But Guichard\n captures images of lighthouses in more\n tranquil conditions as well, perfectly communicating\n the romantic calm but also the\n solitude their situation entails. Featuring\n additional vintage photographs and etchings,\n extracts from logbooks, architectural\n drawings detailing developments in lighthouse\n engineering, and a map of France\n locating all the lighthouses discussed,\n \u003ci\u003eLighthouses of France\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential volume\n for all those interested in this eternally fascinating\n subject.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Flammarion","offers":[{"title":"Used - very good","offer_id":53379030057302,"sku":"9782080107152-V","price":12.49,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/5829\/5382\/files\/product_image_9782080107152_1.jpg?v=1781647038","url":"https:\/\/www.momoxbooks.com\/products\/cast-rene-lighthouses-of-france-9782080107152","provider":"momoxbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}