"A unique, eloquent, and impressively informative study, Guiding Lights: The Extraordinary Lives of Lighthouse Women by Shona Riddell is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Women's Biography & History collections in general, and Lighthouse History supplemental studies reading lists in particular." -- Midwest Book Review

Shona Riddell has a long-held fascination with lighthouses. A writer for 20 years (including her subantarctic history book Trial of Strength with Exisle), Shona lives with her husband and two daughters in Wellington, New Zealand. She enjoys cold, windy weather and stories about remote locations.

Introduction -A world apart Watch-fire's light - The origin and evolution of lighthouses Day and night - The role of a keeper Modest yet so brave - Grace Darling and Ida Lewis Keeping her lamp alight - The lives of female keepers Ceaseless vigil - The impact of isolation Whispers of the past - Ghosts, legends and mysteries Lonely outposts - Lighthouse women in the twentieth century The turning of the light - Today's keepers and caretakers Epilogue: To the lighthouse Acknowledgements Bibliography Image credits Endnotes Appendix: The lighthouses of Guiding Lights Index