The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter - by Hazel Gaynor (Paperback)

About the Book

"1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling's home for all of her twenty-two years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England ... But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist ... 1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen-years-old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper ... A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda's family history"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

From The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home comes a historical novel inspired by true events, and the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past two hundred years.

"They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty."

1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling's home for all of her twenty-two years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, the subject of poems, ballads, and plays. But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist. Just as George Emmerson captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart.

1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen-years-old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper, until her baby is born. A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda's family history. As a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be linked forever by their instinctive acts of courage and love.

From the Back Cover

"They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty."

1838: Northumberland, England. Grace Darling enjoys her quiet island life at Longstone Lighthouse, at one with nature and the wild sea breezes. But her solitude is interrupted when she and her father rescue survivors of a shipwreck in a furious storm and Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, a heroine of her time. As her renown grows, so does her friendship with George Emmerson, an artist visiting the lighthouse. As George captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart. But as the accounts of her heroism escalate, Grace wonders if she has the courage to endure the relentless glare of fame.

1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen years old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson arrives in America in disgrace, sent from her home in Ireland to stay with Harriet Flaherty, a reclusive relative and keeper at Rose Island Lighthouse. When a discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda's past, she sets out to discover the connection between a Victorian heroine and her own family. When a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be forever linked by their instinctive acts of bravery and love.

Inspired by true events, The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter is a sweeping historical novel that explores how our past shapes our present, and what it truly means to be courageous.

Review Quotes

"This is historical fiction at its finest." - Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Masterpiece
"A splendid read--The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter is not to be missed!" - Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network
"Hazel Gaynor's skillful artistry as a storyteller glitters like the sun..." - Susan Meissner, New York Times Bestselling Author of As Bright as Heaven
"Gaynor's narrative seamlessly flows between the eras and the women, chronicling their longing, their pain, and their quiet triumphs...Based on the real life of Grace Darling and two fierce storms, Gaynor's tale is both heartbreaking and captivating." - Historical Novel Society
"...the many complicated women in it add a few more members to the women lighthouse keepers who perhaps, in their own small ways, lit the way for the women of today." - Book Riot
"Gaynor has always been a better writer than her peers, and this exquisite, thoroughly researched book places her a clear head and shoulders above the rest." - Sunday Independent
Praise for Last Christmas in Paris: "For fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society comes another terrific epistolary historical novel that is simply unputdownable [...] this remarkable novel will undoubtedly go on my keeper shelf." - Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of The Night the Lights Went Out
"Hazel Gaynor brings the mystery of the Cottingley Fairies thrillingly to life...A mystery, a love story, and an enchanting and surprising journey of self-discovery, The Cottingley Secret unwraps the true story behind one of the great hoaxes of the 19th century while still allowing the possibility of the magical." - Kate Forsyth, author of Bitter Greens
"I adored The Cottingley Secret [...] Gaynor has penned in majestic prose an enchanting and enthralling tale of childhood magic, forgotten dreams, and finding the parts of ourselves we thought were lost forever." - Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan's Tale
Praise for The Cottingley Secret: "The Cottingley Secret tells the tale of two girls who somehow convince the world that magic exists. An artful weaving of old legends with new realities, this tale invites the reader to wonder: could it be true?" - Kate Alcott, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmaker
"Richly imagined and terrifically enchanting, Hazel Gaynor's The Cottingley Secret is an enthralling tale where memories serve as lifelines for the living, and the unseen is made real. Reading this novel is akin to finding hidden treasure - each character, a friend; each chapter, a revelation." - Ami McKay, author of The Witches of New York