BLUF

The author discusses the history, romance and mystery of lighthouses and their keepers and draws parallels with the isolation and frustrations of COVID-19 felt today.

Summary

Lighthouses inspire us to conjure up images of isolation and loneliness, and sometimes even adventure and mystery. As our imaginations drift into thoughts of isolated lighthouse keepers diligently carrying out their duty, we see them almost as super-heroes standing between unsuspecting ships and the jagged rocks waiting to destroy them. Author Emma Stonex was so captivated by lighthouses—and some of the mysteries surrounding them—she wrote a book about it. In the attached web article, Emma discusses the motivations that kept many of the keepers in their long-term roles and the isolation that led others to loath the job. Consider also Emma’s parallels of lighthouse keeping and the COVID-19 pandemic that at times has forced us all into our own lighthouses.   

Learn how lighthouse keepers managed isolation

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