New Holland Publishers [UK] Ltd, London, Date: 2008. First Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Near Fine Condition/Near Fine. Lighthouses have always fascinated people for the often incredible feats of engineering and building skill involved in their construction, the romance of their association with shipwrecks, disaster and tales of heroism, the loneliness and dedication of the lighthouse keepers, and the beauty of their locations. But writers and historians have hitherto neglected the story of the very reason for their existence - the bright light that guides mariners and travellers alike to safety. In this book, Toby Chance and Peter Williams explain how, in the enthusiasm and ambition of the Victorian age, great steps forward were made by men with the vision, technical skill and scientific ability to take on the English lighthouse authorities and drag lighthouse illumination out of the dark ages. Theirs is a story of self-confidence and prejudice, competition and collaboration, trial and error. It is peopled by rivals, friends, mavericks and innovators, as well as authorities that were resistant to change and reluctant to adopt new technologies. In a time when globalization became a reality for local firms across the world and empires opened up new corners of the globe to Western consciousness, lighthouses were an indispensable tool, ensuring the safe transport of goods and people. James Chance, together with his family firm Chance Brothers, was at the centre of ...