Where Light in Darkness Lies

Like every Venetian, cultural geographer Veronica della Dora has an intuitive understanding of the symbiosis between architecture and the sea, which is why Where Light in Darkness Lies: The Story of the Lighthouse is infused with a uniquely spiritual fervour … perfectly captures the surrealistic impact of these structures on the human heart and imagination. * The Weekend Australian *“It’s a safe rule of thumb in cinema,” the film critic Guy Lodge once wrote, “that nothing good happens in a lighthouse.” In her intriguing account of our fascination with lighthouses through the centuries, della Dora provides plenty of evidence that he was right. Lighthouses may have often been symbols of hope and, literally, beacons of enlightenment. They have also had, as she points out, “a dark edge.” . . . full of eye-opening information … Today, nearly all lighthouses around the world are unmanned. They lost some of their mystery but our fascination with them remains. They are, in della Dora’s words, “magnets for human thoughts and for the human imagination”. Her book goes some way towards explaining that fascination. * Daily Mail *Where Light in the Darkness Lies is an exceptionally clear, well-written, and beautifully illustrated work that deserves to be read from cover to cover. It adds significantly to our intellectual understanding of the history of lighthouses and their cultural impact. Lighthouse enthusiasts and maritime scholars alike will delight in the wealth of information packed into della Dora’s narrative. * Northern Mariner *Hauntingly beautiful, dazzlingly written and brimming with amazing information, Where Light in Darkness Lies is brilliant on lighthouses as symbols of the human struggle for survival and meaning in the face of an ever-encroaching darkness. With her extraordinary eye for detail and evocatively poetic language, Veronica della Dora guides us effortlessly through history, geography, literature, religion, art, film and, not least, actual lighthouses, changing the way we see and understand the world. * Maximos Constas, Professor of Patristics and Orthodox Spirituality, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology *

A beautifully written and comprehensive tribute to lighthouses and their keepers! I enjoyed every word and recommend Where Light in Darkness Lies to lighthouse enthusiasts, history buffs and anyone looking for a thorough chronicle of an important chapter in maritime history.

Veronica della Dora introduces us to the enduring symbolic life of the lighthouse, showing how this sentinel structure, designed to guard lives and ensure safe passage at sea, is invested with rich cultural meaning. Within the book’s penetrating beam are coastlines where land meets sea, imperial ambitions and imaginary worlds, poetic and painterly arts, and deep feelings of spiritual faith.

Veronica della Dora is Professor of Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her books include Mountain: Nature and Culture (Reaktion, 2016).