{"title":"Jon Bauer","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our Jon Bauer collection, where you can explore the captivating works of this talented author. Known for crafting narratives that delve deeply into the human experience, Jon Bauer's books resonate with readers who appreciate insightful and poignant storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the notable books in this collection is \u003cem\u003eThe Last Lighthouse Keeper\u003c\/em\u003e. This compelling work offers a unique glimpse into the life of a lighthouse keeper, blending elements of biography and memoir with incredible sensitivity and depth. Bauer's ability to weave personal reflections into broader themes of solitude, longing, and the passage of time makes his writing both thought-provoking and relatable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're an ardent fan of narrative-driven memoirs or simply curious about exploring new literary territories, Jon Bauer's books provide a rich and rewarding reading experience. Dive into this collection and discover stories that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-last-lighthouse-keeper-by-john-cook-9781760875381","title":"The Last Lighthouse Keeper","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Tasmania, John Cook is known as the 'The Keeper of the Flame'. John is renowned as one of the last of the \"kerosene keepers\": he spent a good part of his 26-year career in Tasmanian lighthouses tending to kerosene, not electrical, lamps. He joined the lighthouse service in 1969, after a spell in the merchant marine. Far from reviling work on isolated islands such as Tasman and Maatsuyker, Australia's southernmost lighthouse, he discovered that he loved the solitude and delighted in the sense of purpose that light keeping gave him. He did two stints on Tasman, in 1969-71 and 1977, and was the head keeper on Maatsuyker for eight years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTasman's kerosene light was a pressure lamp fuelled by two big bottles that had to be pumped up to 75 pounds per square inch (about 516 kilopascals): \"It was the equivalent of pumping up a tyre every 20 minutes,\" John says. \"Then you had to wind up the weights - they went down the tower and turned the prism around like a big clockwork. If the weights went all the way to the bottom, the light would stop.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"The main thing was that 365 nights of the year you sat in that tower, 100 feet up, and you had to stay awake,\" John says of Tasman. \"If you fell asleep, the light would stop and then you were in trouble.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKeepers took watches around the clock, in a system similar to that on a ship. Day watches weren't a chance to slack off: standing orders required the watchkeeper to look seawards at least every half-hour and to log sightings of any vessels, and their course, in the area. \"But the main thing was there was always maintenance to do,\" John says. \"Because Mother Nature was your boss. She'd blow gutters off, that sort of thing - she was always stickin' her bib in, and you were repairin' it.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTasman keepers also ran a herd of up to 500 sheep. They didn't have a freezer, so they'd kill and dress a sheep every fortnight. John supplemented his bulk stores, delivered every three months by the lighthouse supply vessel, with extras brought on the bi-monthly mail boat, and by keeping chooks, ducks and turkeys. \"I never ran out of things to do,\" he says. \"In my free time I used to do correspondence courses - I did navigation, diesel mechanics, business management, and accounting.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1977, keepers left the Tasman quarters forever. \"I've got such strong memories of those places with people in them, and kids' voices rattlin' around,\" John says. \"It breaks my heart to think about those places sittin' out there empty with no lights on.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Last Lighthouse Keeper\u003c\/em\u003e by John Cook and Jon Bauer captures these vivid memories and intricate details of a lifestyle that has all but vanished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46846397743340,"sku":"9781760875381","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/26140753482814.jpg?v=1758909224"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/jon-bauer.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}