Literary Collections

Island Fever

Name: Island Fever
Author: Robin Jones
ISBN: 9780711034716

by Robin Jones

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Synopsis

Britain's big strength is that it is an island nation. However, we often forget that it boasts hundreds of smaller islands off its shores, each with a distinct character of its own. This book concentrates on the islands of England and Wales showing a mixture of contemporary photographs and archive material to capture the unique atmosphere of each island.
Highlights include:
Steep Holm – wonderfully preserved World War 2 timewarp in the Bristol Channel.
Flat Holm – Welsh island with cholera hospital and amazing fortifications.
Lundy – pirate's haven that issues its own stamps
Scillies – Britain's own Hawaii. Five/six inhabited islands with their own stories to tell.
St Michael's Mount – tidal survivor of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, with a working railway.
Looe Island – subject of the book We Bought An Island.
Burgh island – tidal with the world's only sea tractor and fantastic art deco hotel with Agatha Christie connections
Brownsea Island – inside Poole Harbour, famous for red squirrels and the boy scout movement.
Hayling Island – Hayling Billy train, seaside resort
Goodwin Sands – sunken island in the Channel, Britain's biggest graveyard for boats
Eel Pie Island in Thames – famous sixties hangout
Foulness Island – secret MoD base, and other Essex marshes islands
Mersea Island – sailing haven and holiday resort
Sealand – military platform off Essex, claims to be a separate country
Read's Island - Lincolnshire Humber
Spurn Head – not an island, but has been at times, and may be so again
Farne Islands – famous for Grace Darling connections
Lindisfarne – Holy Island
Hilbre Islands – fascinating inhabited set of islands off the west coast of The Wirral
Anglesey/Holy Island – last stand of the Druids
Bardsey Island – site of medieval monastery
Ramsey Island - off Pembrokeshire
Barry Island and Sully Island – famous steam graveyard
Characterful, quirky with distinct and peculiar charms, these and many other British islands are covered in affectionate detail, accompanied by some breathtaking photography.