What was it that led a man to make lighthouse keeping his life’s occupation – to select a monotonous, lonely job, which took him away from his family for months at a time, leaving him in a cramped, narrow tower with two other men not of his own choosing?

Lighthouse keepers and their families opened their souls to Tony Parker, Britain’s foremost oral historian and her most expert interviewer. With this revelatory portrait of a small community, living on the margins, he has given us an exceptional insight into both human nature and the British character.

‘His books should be essential reading for every schoolkid, every politician and anyone who has anything to do with government. He gives an insight into the mechanics of people’s lives and minds.’ - Bob Hardy, Franz Ferdinand

‘A splendid book which has enriched my understanding of human nature.’ -  Sunday Times