BANSEMER'S BOOK OF
FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSES
Review from
"The Keepers Log"
The Official Journal of the U.S. Lighthouse Society
San Francisco, California
| We've stated in the past that lighthouse
books are flying off the press these days, along with videos. A great many of them rehash
the same old stuff and are laced with inaccuracies, ubiquitous ghost stories and often
uninteresting photos. However, we recently received a review copy of one of the most
beautiful lighthouse books we have ever seen, a breath of fresh air. Bansemer's Book of Florida Lighthouses is a colorful coffee table book filled with absolutely gorgeous watercolors of all Florida lighthouses. The paintings accurately portray the various light stations as well as impart a sense of the surroundings of each lighthouse. The flora and fauna are vividly depicted; one can feel the warmth of the climate, the coolness of the ocean in his paintings. Accompanying the full color water colors are small black and white sketches of some of the lighthouses (showing a different aspect than the primary painting), as well as sketches of lighthouse elements, vessels, and boat yard characters. The book is more than just a beautiful album of lighthouse paintings. It contains snippets of history about each fight station; dates, information important to a particular station, recent developments regarding the lighthouse and the status of the light station today. An added bonus are very accurate chartlets showing where each lighthouse is located and how to reach it. The text is set with very readable type, and some sketches are also accompanied with comments by the artist in script, as if he just thought of something to add to this handsome album. The overall feeling of this charming book is one of well being. It's a lovely album that transports the reader to the beautiful Florida coast. The paintings are the most accurate portrayals of lighthouses we have seen, almost photographic, yet soft and warm. There is a personal touch to this volume not found in any other book we've seen on the subject. If you have skimmed through any of the large format books offered just before Christmas on such subjects as fairies, butterflies or gnomes, you'll have an idea of the feel of this work. Hands down, it is the most beautiful book we have ever seen on the subject of lighthouses: accurate paintings, whimsical and accurate sketches, factual text, warm personal comments, and chartlets on lighthouse locations. It is a visual feast. To occasionally slip into the lighthouse life of yesteryear, buy this book; we promise you will not be disappointed. We feel confidant that Bansemer's Book of Florida Lighthouses is headed for a book award.
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Sample pages, ordering, and more information about
the book.