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St. Simons Trilogy #1
Lighthouse
First Novel in the St. Simons Trilogy A compelling, vibrant saga of conflict, love, and a young man's search to fulfill his dreams.
In this enthralling first novel of the St. Simons Trilogy, Eugenia Price shares the compelling story of James Gould, a young man with a passionate dream. Raised in post-Revolution Granville, Massachusetts, Gould could only imagine the beauty and warmth of lands to the south. It was there that he longed to build bridges and lighthouses from his very own design and plans. The gripping story unfolds as Gould follows his dream to the raw settlement of Bangor on the Penobscot River, to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia, to lawless Spanish East Florida, and back—at last and finally—to St. Simons. Along the way, he encounters hardship, peril, failure, and success, but it is the unwavering love of Janie Harris, an especially beautiful and strong-willed young woman, that fulfills his deep need for someone who can share the dream and the life he has chosen.
In this enthralling first novel of the St. Simons Trilogy, Eugenia Price shares the compelling story of James Gould, a young man with a passionate dream. Raised in post-Revolution Granville, Massachusetts, Gould could only imagine the beauty and warmth of lands to the south. It was there that he longed to build bridges and lighthouses from his very own design and plans. The gripping story unfolds as Gould follows his dream to the raw settlement of Bangor on the Penobscot River, to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia, to lawless Spanish East Florida, and back—at last and finally—to St. Simons. Along the way, he encounters hardship, peril, failure, and success, but it is the unwavering love of Janie Harris, an especially beautiful and strong-willed young woman, that fulfills his deep need for someone who can share the dream and the life he has chosen.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
272 people are currently reading
1584 people want to read
About the author
Eugenia Price
79 books228 followersEugenia Price was born in Charleston, WV, June 22, 1916, to Walter (a dentist) and Anna Price. At the age of ten, she decided she wanted to be a writer and entered a poem in her school's literary magazine. She was raised as a member of the Methodist Church, but had left the church behind by the time she graduated from high school, at the age of 15, in 1932. She decided to leave writing behind to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in dentistry. She attended Ohio University for three years, declaring herself an atheist during this time. In 1935, she became a student at Northwestern Dental School, the only woman admitted that year. She studied dentistry for two years, but writing continued to draw her. In 1939, she was hired to work on the NBC radio serial In Care of Aggie Horn. She continued as one of the writers for the show until 1942. She left NBC, going to work for the Proctor and Gamble show Joyce Jordan, M.D. from 1944-1946. In 1945 she founded her own television and radio production company, Eugenia Price Productions, developing other serials for Proctor and Gamble.
In 1949 Eugenia Price underwent a profound life change, giving up her college atheism to embrace Christianity. She considered a career change, but accepted a position with WGN Radio as writer, producer, and director for Unshackled, another radio serial. The popularity of the show led her to a lecturing career throughout the United States and Canada for several years.
Price began yet another career in the early 1950s when she was approached by one of the owners of Zondervan publishing. The 1953 publication of Discoveries Made from Living My New Life, a chronicle of her newfound faith and the experiences that led her to it, launched Eugenia Price into a new career as an inspirational writer. Other inspirational books followed, addresses issues of importance to women and children and other self-help concerns and urging readers away from advances in psychology and analysis and toward a life based on Biblical tenants. Many of her inspirational books are still in print, a testimony to the comfort and empathy many readers found in her works.
Eugenia Price gained a much wider audience though when she began publishing historical romances set in the American South. These novels were praised as "compelling sagas that blend personal stories of love and tragedy. . . with the dramatic events of a region's history." Her first historical romance, The Beloved Invader, was inspired her visit to Saint Simons Island, Georgia and based on one of the island's nineteenth-century inhabitants. The Beloved Invader was published in 1965 and followed by two other romances, New Moon Rising (1969) and Lighthouse (1971), to form the St. Simons Trilogy.
Her historical romances made Price a frequent member of the best-seller lists and brought her millions of readers. Although she continued to write and to publish inspirational works, it was her romances that brought her the greatest attention.
Eugenia Price died May 28, 1996, in Brunswick, Georgia of congestive heart failure and is buried in the Christ Church cemetery, Frederica, GA. Many of her books remain in print and have translated into 17 languages, charming readers of all ages and nationalities. Her manuscripts are housed at Boston University.
In 1949 Eugenia Price underwent a profound life change, giving up her college atheism to embrace Christianity. She considered a career change, but accepted a position with WGN Radio as writer, producer, and director for Unshackled, another radio serial. The popularity of the show led her to a lecturing career throughout the United States and Canada for several years.
Price began yet another career in the early 1950s when she was approached by one of the owners of Zondervan publishing. The 1953 publication of Discoveries Made from Living My New Life, a chronicle of her newfound faith and the experiences that led her to it, launched Eugenia Price into a new career as an inspirational writer. Other inspirational books followed, addresses issues of importance to women and children and other self-help concerns and urging readers away from advances in psychology and analysis and toward a life based on Biblical tenants. Many of her inspirational books are still in print, a testimony to the comfort and empathy many readers found in her works.
Eugenia Price gained a much wider audience though when she began publishing historical romances set in the American South. These novels were praised as "compelling sagas that blend personal stories of love and tragedy. . . with the dramatic events of a region's history." Her first historical romance, The Beloved Invader, was inspired her visit to Saint Simons Island, Georgia and based on one of the island's nineteenth-century inhabitants. The Beloved Invader was published in 1965 and followed by two other romances, New Moon Rising (1969) and Lighthouse (1971), to form the St. Simons Trilogy.
Her historical romances made Price a frequent member of the best-seller lists and brought her millions of readers. Although she continued to write and to publish inspirational works, it was her romances that brought her the greatest attention.
Eugenia Price died May 28, 1996, in Brunswick, Georgia of congestive heart failure and is buried in the Christ Church cemetery, Frederica, GA. Many of her books remain in print and have translated into 17 languages, charming readers of all ages and nationalities. Her manuscripts are housed at Boston University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
January 19, 2015
I do try very hard to read books with a mind to the different values of the time in which they were written. Reading this one now, hard on the heels of a bloody 2014, on the Eve of Martin Luther King day, was a jarring experience.
Part of the book's story was watching this Yankee transplanted to Georgia come to grips with owning slaves. It's all rationalised very prettily. But he still BOUGHT AND OWNED HUMANS.
Worse, though, are the passages about how happy his slaves are, how he is the best master and the best white man alive. Any time a slave speaks, it is rendered in patois. This is so troubling to me because it's precisely these fairy tales we white people tell ourselves that bleeds into the world and ends up with what we have now.
Part of the book's story was watching this Yankee transplanted to Georgia come to grips with owning slaves. It's all rationalised very prettily. But he still BOUGHT AND OWNED HUMANS.
Worse, though, are the passages about how happy his slaves are, how he is the best master and the best white man alive. Any time a slave speaks, it is rendered in patois. This is so troubling to me because it's precisely these fairy tales we white people tell ourselves that bleeds into the world and ends up with what we have now.
May 22, 2011
Somehow I was under the impression that this was a book about a man who wanted to build a lighthouse he could live in. Turns out, I was right about everything but the living in it part. Kind of disappointing because I think it would be cool to live in a lighthouse... Oh, well.
This book was very... solid and.... um, I don't know. I didn't enjoy very much. I read the whole book with a more than slight disinterest and I didn't smile, outwardly or inwardly, even once while reading. I need humour! Be it subtle, wry, gentle, it's a necessary ingredient to make a good book for me. Ah, and the characters were... forgettable.
The main character fell in love at first sight twice. The first time didn't work out, obviously, but he didn't learn his lesson! The second time worked out, of course. Still, love at first sight almost always irritates me in books (as I've mentioned before). It also strikes me as being lazy on the author's part.
Actually, after James (the main character) tells girl #2 he fell in love with her the first time he saw her, this is what she says:
"What if I had looked like--a witch--ugly, hideous? With crossed eyes and protruding teeth?"
Exactly! This is why love at first sight is stupid. Anyway, he just replies something inane about being told she was lovely, he doesn't know why he loves her blah blah blah. And then girl #2 admits she wanted to marry him the first time she laid eyes on him.
....To put it mildly, she instantly lost favour with me.
I'm not sure whether I will continue with this series or not. Interestingly enough, though this is the first in the series, it was written last. How very George Lucas-esque
This book was very... solid and.... um, I don't know. I didn't enjoy very much. I read the whole book with a more than slight disinterest and I didn't smile, outwardly or inwardly, even once while reading. I need humour! Be it subtle, wry, gentle, it's a necessary ingredient to make a good book for me. Ah, and the characters were... forgettable.
The main character fell in love at first sight twice. The first time didn't work out, obviously, but he didn't learn his lesson! The second time worked out, of course. Still, love at first sight almost always irritates me in books (as I've mentioned before). It also strikes me as being lazy on the author's part.
Actually, after James (the main character) tells girl #2 he fell in love with her the first time he saw her, this is what she says:
"What if I had looked like--a witch--ugly, hideous? With crossed eyes and protruding teeth?"
Exactly! This is why love at first sight is stupid. Anyway, he just replies something inane about being told she was lovely, he doesn't know why he loves her blah blah blah. And then girl #2 admits she wanted to marry him the first time she laid eyes on him.
....To put it mildly, she instantly lost favour with me.
I'm not sure whether I will continue with this series or not. Interestingly enough, though this is the first in the series, it was written last. How very George Lucas-esque
September 17, 2014
My church book club, Page Turners, picked Eugenia Price’s novel, Lighthouse, for our September selection because it is considered a classic for those interested in the historic South and in particular the coast of Georgia. The novel was the third book written by Price, but chronologically it is first in her St. Simon’s Trilogy. Set in the years following the American Revolution and filled with real people and places, this is a must read for fans of historical fiction. The novel had been out of print for a number of years, but is now being reissued, along with many of Price’s other books.
Most of the characters in Lighthouse are historic. James Gould was a young man with a dream to build a lighthouse. Price follows James from his humble roots in Granville, Massachusetts through his accomplishments in building, timber, cotton planting and of course the building of the St. Simon’s lighthouse. Extensive research by the author, as well as a deft writing hand, make this novel beautifully crafted as well as historically accurate. James Gould is a very interesting character. He is single-minded in his work, faithful to his family and fair and even-handed in his dealings with his people, or slaves. But he is also a proud man who takes himself very seriously. Independent and uncomplaining, he also finds forgiveness hard. Many of his virtues become faults when not mixed with mercy and grace.
Written in 1972, I think Lighthouse would probably not have found a publisher in the secular world of today. Its worldview, with a natural expression of faith from its characters, makes it definitely read like a Christian novel. And in fact it is. Price took her Christian faith seriously. The issue of slavery in the novel is one case in point. It is portrayed as it probably was, with both good and bad slaveholders. But it in no way condones slavery. It portrays slavery as an insidious evil that lured men away from their convictions. Gould is anti-slavery at the beginning of the novel, yet by the end owns many slaves on his cotton plantation. Those with conscience viewed slavery as a necessary evil during the years before the Civil War. A necessary means to an end. But no matter how good the conditions, owning another human was and is wrong. Turning a blind eye did not make it go away. And neither does it today when there are still so many forced into slavery.
Recommended.
Audience: older teens to adults
Most of the characters in Lighthouse are historic. James Gould was a young man with a dream to build a lighthouse. Price follows James from his humble roots in Granville, Massachusetts through his accomplishments in building, timber, cotton planting and of course the building of the St. Simon’s lighthouse. Extensive research by the author, as well as a deft writing hand, make this novel beautifully crafted as well as historically accurate. James Gould is a very interesting character. He is single-minded in his work, faithful to his family and fair and even-handed in his dealings with his people, or slaves. But he is also a proud man who takes himself very seriously. Independent and uncomplaining, he also finds forgiveness hard. Many of his virtues become faults when not mixed with mercy and grace.
Written in 1972, I think Lighthouse would probably not have found a publisher in the secular world of today. Its worldview, with a natural expression of faith from its characters, makes it definitely read like a Christian novel. And in fact it is. Price took her Christian faith seriously. The issue of slavery in the novel is one case in point. It is portrayed as it probably was, with both good and bad slaveholders. But it in no way condones slavery. It portrays slavery as an insidious evil that lured men away from their convictions. Gould is anti-slavery at the beginning of the novel, yet by the end owns many slaves on his cotton plantation. Those with conscience viewed slavery as a necessary evil during the years before the Civil War. A necessary means to an end. But no matter how good the conditions, owning another human was and is wrong. Turning a blind eye did not make it go away. And neither does it today when there are still so many forced into slavery.
Recommended.
Audience: older teens to adults
August 6, 2017
I was on St. Simons Island in April of 2016 and decided to read this trilogy about the island. Lighthouse is the first book, although it was the last one of this series written by Ms. Price. The story line is about James Gould (the builder of the Lighthouse), his life and the people he knew. Although the book is fiction, Ms. Price did considerable research on the events and people involved at the time. True to real life, there are many hardships and relationships to be discovered. Slavery and vicious attacks by the Creek Indians are part of the life in the early 1800s. I will be finishing this trilogy.
April 23, 2014
During my sojourn in Kentucky, I wandered into the library of my temporary home. Glancing at the books on the shelf, Lighthouse written by Eugenia Price caught my attention. I love lighthouses; they are sure and constant towering armories of light. It is a satisfying notion –a beacon set up on a hill– guiding travelers to their destination.
The author’s love of the south set the stage for this novel. Lighthouse is the first novel in the St. Simons Trilogy, three books based on the life of James Gould and his descendants. St. Simons is a small island off the coast of Georgia. Eugenia Price made St. Simons Island her home during the latter years of her life. She fell in love with the scenery, the hospitable nature of its citizens and the history of the island. Today, Eugenia Price is laid to rest in the Christ Churchyard, located in township of Frederica on St. Simons Island. Her tombstone reads, “Light...and eternity and love and all are mine at last."
The setting of the story is the early 1800’s; the United States is very young in comparison to the rest of the world. Colonial ideologies collide with new ideas about the powers of the state and federal government. Scottish and English ancestry is blended with the savagery of the Creek Indians and the warring nature of Britain and Spain. The differences between the north and the south were becoming clear, especially in the areas of economics, industry and politics.
The book revolves around the life of James Gould and his determination to fulfill his dream. James’ story depicts two major conflicts, man against destiny and man against himself. At times, James Gould is his own worst enemy. James desires to make a prominent name for himself as a builder; his dream is to one day build a lighthouse. Driven by pride and the pursuit of this dream, Gould confronts many disappointments.
How do you go from having a revered black friend as a mentor and confidant in Massachusetts to owning black slaves in Georgia? This question tortures James Gould’s soul. He suffers moral turmoil regarding slave ownership. Although a man of conviction, James must “learn to live in this blurred time in history,” (pg. 188) and make the best of his regrettable situation. Mutual love and admiration, devotion and friendship dwell between James and “his people.” Yet as you read, you sense slavery’s haunting effect upon his life.
James Gould’s quest proves and buffets his character. His pride pushes him and holds him captive. One day, his wife Janie confronts him, “Pride has shut you away from your family for all these years...from your friends... from your own brother. You've built your lighthouse, the symbol of your own indestructibility, but one false accusation and you go to pieces¬-still afraid people will think less of you.” (pg. 266) With his pride revealed, he admits “I have to know, when I look at it, that every joint is perfect, every nail driven true, for my own satisfaction.” (pg. 268)
In the end, James realizes his lighthouse, his aspirations; his life has no significance unless fortified by devotion to God, family and friends. James Gould became a true keeper of light, a reflection of courage and strength. After all, “A lighthouse, as Captain Barry had said so long ago, was only as good as its beam.” (pg. 262)
I appreciate the amount of research and effort taken to write about this historical period. I was surprised by the underlying message of slavery in the south and the depiction of the uncivilized nature of Florida. But these were major factors in building the lighthouse on St. Simons Island. I could sense the affection of the author toward her characters. She wrote about them as if they were old friends. I would have enjoyed a bit more imagery. I disliked the abrupt jump-forward writing technique, months and even years were skipped, leaving gaps in the story-line. Despite this fact, the book was captivating and it increased my appreciation for lighthouses. I hope to one day visit St. Simons Island, GA and see her lighthouse.
The author’s love of the south set the stage for this novel. Lighthouse is the first novel in the St. Simons Trilogy, three books based on the life of James Gould and his descendants. St. Simons is a small island off the coast of Georgia. Eugenia Price made St. Simons Island her home during the latter years of her life. She fell in love with the scenery, the hospitable nature of its citizens and the history of the island. Today, Eugenia Price is laid to rest in the Christ Churchyard, located in township of Frederica on St. Simons Island. Her tombstone reads, “Light...and eternity and love and all are mine at last."
The setting of the story is the early 1800’s; the United States is very young in comparison to the rest of the world. Colonial ideologies collide with new ideas about the powers of the state and federal government. Scottish and English ancestry is blended with the savagery of the Creek Indians and the warring nature of Britain and Spain. The differences between the north and the south were becoming clear, especially in the areas of economics, industry and politics.
The book revolves around the life of James Gould and his determination to fulfill his dream. James’ story depicts two major conflicts, man against destiny and man against himself. At times, James Gould is his own worst enemy. James desires to make a prominent name for himself as a builder; his dream is to one day build a lighthouse. Driven by pride and the pursuit of this dream, Gould confronts many disappointments.
How do you go from having a revered black friend as a mentor and confidant in Massachusetts to owning black slaves in Georgia? This question tortures James Gould’s soul. He suffers moral turmoil regarding slave ownership. Although a man of conviction, James must “learn to live in this blurred time in history,” (pg. 188) and make the best of his regrettable situation. Mutual love and admiration, devotion and friendship dwell between James and “his people.” Yet as you read, you sense slavery’s haunting effect upon his life.
James Gould’s quest proves and buffets his character. His pride pushes him and holds him captive. One day, his wife Janie confronts him, “Pride has shut you away from your family for all these years...from your friends... from your own brother. You've built your lighthouse, the symbol of your own indestructibility, but one false accusation and you go to pieces¬-still afraid people will think less of you.” (pg. 266) With his pride revealed, he admits “I have to know, when I look at it, that every joint is perfect, every nail driven true, for my own satisfaction.” (pg. 268)
In the end, James realizes his lighthouse, his aspirations; his life has no significance unless fortified by devotion to God, family and friends. James Gould became a true keeper of light, a reflection of courage and strength. After all, “A lighthouse, as Captain Barry had said so long ago, was only as good as its beam.” (pg. 262)
I appreciate the amount of research and effort taken to write about this historical period. I was surprised by the underlying message of slavery in the south and the depiction of the uncivilized nature of Florida. But these were major factors in building the lighthouse on St. Simons Island. I could sense the affection of the author toward her characters. She wrote about them as if they were old friends. I would have enjoyed a bit more imagery. I disliked the abrupt jump-forward writing technique, months and even years were skipped, leaving gaps in the story-line. Despite this fact, the book was captivating and it increased my appreciation for lighthouses. I hope to one day visit St. Simons Island, GA and see her lighthouse.
July 15, 2023
Audible credit 13 hours 33 min. Narrated by Tessa Richard's (A)
With hope of being being able to see well enough to write a review later.
With hope of being being able to see well enough to write a review later.
January 3, 2012
James Gould was an admirable but flawed man. Admirable in his dedication to be and do the very best he could conceive and flawed in his inability to imagine that things might be different than the way he perceived them. He felt betrayed by his first fiance when she preferred his brother to him even though she had never clearly "chosen" him.
He ran away to the south Georgia and finally the eastern Florida wilderness where he made a fortune in timber and sawmill operations only to lose much of it in an Indian uprising but married the love of his life who helped him overcome his self isolation and independence. He was nonetheless supportive of his family (including his wife's).
He built a lighthouse and a successful dynasty on St Simons Island, Georgia.
He ran away to the south Georgia and finally the eastern Florida wilderness where he made a fortune in timber and sawmill operations only to lose much of it in an Indian uprising but married the love of his life who helped him overcome his self isolation and independence. He was nonetheless supportive of his family (including his wife's).
He built a lighthouse and a successful dynasty on St Simons Island, Georgia.
June 6, 2014
I thought I had read this book many years ago as I have always loved St. Simons, GA, the setting for the story. Having just visited the island and surrounding areas to tour 14 historic churches, I was once again interested in Eugenia Price's historical novel. I am so glad I came home and checked it out. It has been the perfect story to enjoy as spring turns to summer. I learned more about James Gould and his family and the story of how he came to build the LIghthouse at St. Simons while enjoying the romance and setting. I am looking forward to a great beach read of New Moon Rising... the second in the trilogy. These books are not Pulitzer Prize winners nor complicated story lines. But they are satisfying reads enjoyed in between the heavy stuff.
June 19, 2011
This book was recommended to me by a friend. If you like historical fiction, then you will enjoy this book. Bonus points for if you have ever been to St Simons Island, GA. For those that know me well, my favorite place on earth is Sea Island GA. These 2 islands are adjacent. When I visited there, the island became a part of me. This book allowed my imagination to go back to that beautiful place. I plan to finish the trilogy.
August 31, 2017
Enjoyed reading this first in the trilogy, enough to want to find the second book and continue learning about the Gould family. This story is based on historical happenings beginning in the 1780's up to approximately 1820.
If you are interested in history, lighthouses, St. Simons Island or a person full filling a dream this is a book for you.
If you are interested in history, lighthouses, St. Simons Island or a person full filling a dream this is a book for you.
March 31, 2022
I knew this author for her excellent books on Christian womanhood before I discovered she wrote novels. I'm very hesitant to read Christian women's fiction, but I'm really glad I gave this book a try. It's based on actual events and the character development and plot made it hard to put down.
I have the next two books on my shelf and am very much looking forward to reading them.
I have the next two books on my shelf and am very much looking forward to reading them.
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November 1, 2015Excellent re-read!
June 3, 2021
"Lighthouse" by Eugenia Price is a good piece of historical fiction that brings the history of St. Simons Island, Georgia to life. The story centers around James Gould, a builder and designer that goes through multiple obstacles throughout his life to make a name for himself and that he does. While James Gould is a hard worker dedicated to his craft, his defect is how he internalizes everything that happens to him throughout his life and this flaw can be Gould's undoing. As he moves through life building houses with precision and detail and even owning a lumber mill in Spanish East Florida at one point, Gould succeeds in work and his love life, taking care of Miss Janie Harris from Savannah, Georgia with all the care and love in the world. With all of these accomplishments under his belt, only one thing is missing from his tapestry of hardship and longing: his childhood dream of building a lighthouse. When unfortunate circumstances hit Gould and his family, an opportunity arises that will symbolize the moment Gould has been waiting for. James Gould would become the builder of the St. Simon's Island Lighthouse.
I like how Price writes in detail the building of the lighthouse and how Gould's life culminated just for this epic moment of making his name in history by building this beacon of hope. This book was a nice introduction to the history of the St. Simon's Island area of Georgia and I can imagine the peace and tranquility of visiting or even living in this part of Georgia surrounded by nature and history.
We all need a lighthouse to shine a light in those dark areas of our lives and to make improvements for we can be better and do better.
I like how Price writes in detail the building of the lighthouse and how Gould's life culminated just for this epic moment of making his name in history by building this beacon of hope. This book was a nice introduction to the history of the St. Simon's Island area of Georgia and I can imagine the peace and tranquility of visiting or even living in this part of Georgia surrounded by nature and history.
We all need a lighthouse to shine a light in those dark areas of our lives and to make improvements for we can be better and do better.
June 7, 2021
I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to the next one in the series. The author, Eugenia Price, combines inspirational writing with historical romance and a compelling saga of love and tragedy. The story begins with James Gould growing up in post-Revolution Granville, Massachusetts. James dreams of, one day, building bridges and a lighthouse. The story moves to the American south to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia, then to lawless Spanish East Florida, and finally back to St. Simons. As James Gould’s dreams develop and historic events unfold, a gripping story and well-developed characters provide the reader with a realistic sense of living life in that time and place. Moreover, Eugenia Price does all things well as she shows each person’s ultimate need for God.
June 30, 2025
I read Eugenia Price books years ago. I remember enjoying those reads. So I decided to try another. This book didn’t move me the same way.
I found it just … ok. But that being said, I wonder if it’s my age difference or maybe it’s because I listened to it with audible. I truly hated the voices the reader used for most of the characters, especially Janie. In the middle of the book I found myself thinking I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself. But I find myself wondering that about many of my audible books.
I didn’t find this book captivating my interest enough. But I think it would be a sweet book for younger readers.
I found it just … ok. But that being said, I wonder if it’s my age difference or maybe it’s because I listened to it with audible. I truly hated the voices the reader used for most of the characters, especially Janie. In the middle of the book I found myself thinking I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself. But I find myself wondering that about many of my audible books.
I didn’t find this book captivating my interest enough. But I think it would be a sweet book for younger readers.
April 29, 2018
St. Simons is where we take our spring holidays so this was a very interesting read.
June 11, 2022
This was one of our r book clubs summer reads. It is a story of ups and downs in the life of James Gould .
March 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book. The themes reminded me a lot of Price's Savannah Quartet, but unique in its own way.
September 3, 2018
This is a fun, easy read that sets the stage for a great vacation on St. Simon’s Island.
May 13, 2019
3.5 stars While researching St. Simons Island for a trip, I discovered author Eugenia Price who wrote a trilogy about the island. This historical fiction novel about James Gould, builder of SSI lighthouse, takes place beginning with Shay’s rebellion in 1780’s and ending in the early 1800’s with the main part of the story taking place in FL & GA. We follow James as he pursues a dream and meet many real people who made their mark on SSI, reflected on street names and buildings. I learned much about colonies, settlers, the fight of state vs. federal government, the beginning of our navy, and an insight of what life was like in the South in the 1800’s, but I had a difficult time with Gould’s shift on his view of slavery. Still, it was a great way to familiarize myself with people and places of SSI. I will probably give a chance to her next 2 books in the series to learn more about the history of the island (a great place to visit).
August 6, 2021
Although this was written decades ago, in the old historical fiction style (takes a while to get into, lots of historic info, much telling, different cultural views), it does recount accurately the family history of James Gould who settled on St. Simons Island. The lighthouse doesn't appear until halfway through the book, but the story certainty reveals the hardships of settling on the island (and in Spanish Florida). Give it a go if you are a historical fiction buff! It was a best-selling series back in the day. BTW, the next two in the series (written backward in time) continue the account of the Gould family into the 19th century.
November 29, 2016
What a wonderful story! This has been sitting on my shelf for a long time waiting to be read, and now I wish I had read it sooner. It is the first in a trilogy of historical fiction, and is set in several states, with the main part of the story taking place in northern Florida and Georgia. James Gould is a talented builder and timber man whose life is a roller coaster of good times and tragedy. It is fiction but based on the real people who developed islands off the coast of Georgia as well as Savannah. It is definitely a good read.
September 26, 2018
Fascinating story about real people!!
This set of stories about the Could family who make up a fascinating part of St. Simon's Island, GA history are hard to put down. I HAD to keep reading last into the nights. I love the island and enjoyed learning about a part of its history. If I could, I too would live out my life there. I suggest you get all books and read them sequentially. You will not want to miss a thing! Reading these wonderfully written stories has enriched my life!
This set of stories about the Could family who make up a fascinating part of St. Simon's Island, GA history are hard to put down. I HAD to keep reading last into the nights. I love the island and enjoyed learning about a part of its history. If I could, I too would live out my life there. I suggest you get all books and read them sequentially. You will not want to miss a thing! Reading these wonderfully written stories has enriched my life!
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December 2, 2019Anyone who has been to St. Simons Island will be familiar with the famous lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1810. It was destroyed during the Civil War. This beautiful novel is about the builder of the original. Price thoroughly researched the man, James Gould, who was the builder, and wrote about his family and life events. Before visiting the island, I didn't know about this book and wish I had read it before my visit. The only reservations that I have about recommending this book is the portrayal of slaves.
February 23, 2015
Well, I'm glad to know a little more of the history of the island and the region. It seems like it was carefully researched. But it is all exposition. Things happen, in order, but there's no atmosphere, no interesting description, no character development. There are also big jumps in the timeline that I found irritating. I did want to know what was going to happen, and the protagonists are likeable enough, but definitely in no way a great novel.
April 15, 2022
In some ways this book was a little slow but Eugenia Price writing as I neared the end reminded me how much I love her thirteen novels. She was my first favorite historical fiction writer and in many ways still is. I would have finished this much sooner had I not been so busy with care of my brother following his quadruple bypass.
May 29, 2017
I finish a good book so quickly that I'm glad when they are written in a series. It's like a good book that never ends. I read the whole series, St. Simons Trilogy, Savannah Quartet, and Georgia Trilogy by Eugenia Price many years ago. It is historical fiction based on real people. The best part is the faith that some of the characters relied on to get them through their lives.
May 23, 2010
I'm not sure if it's because I'm so in love with Savannah and the area, but I love anything I've read by Eugenia Price. I'll keep digging up her novels and see if I change my mind about her writing, but that's how it is.
March 4, 2016
Good book; interesting man; beautifully written.
July 20, 2024
I give the story five stars. Although the narrator did a fine job distinguishing the character’s voices, the stereotypical “slave” voices were a bit off-putting to listen to: which sort of leads me to the review.
I have been a fan of Eugenia Price since a friend recommended her to me back in the early 1980s. Her Christian faith is strong (I’ve read some devotionals by her too.) As a life-long resident of Georgia, Ms Price spent hours pouring over historical documents, cemeteries, and library records to research the landmarks she writes about in her novels. Sadly, slavery is a dark blot on our nation’s history.
James Gould is a northerner who makes his living as a builder. He has a dream to someday build a lighthouse. Because of his northern upbringing and friendship with a man who is not just a mentor, but a black man, he resisted owning people when he moved south for work. He acquires his first when he witnesses a horrible display of a young woman at a slave auction as a “breeder.” He bought her to save her from the inevitable she would have received from the other bidder. Gould’s young wife was happy for the friendship she developed with Lonnie. He bought another boatload of Africans who were being forced to swim to shore. Again, he purchased them to rescue them from a slave trader. Gould wrestles with his guilt throughout the book, and feels he has betrayed his mentor and his own principles by owning other people. But, he treats them more as servants and employees, providing them with clothes, food, housing, and mostly respect. I feel he really values the contribution they make to his plantation and building projects. They are portrayed as delighting is pleasing him. Still, the question remains, were they better off with a man like James Gould than with someone who would work them to death and abuse them? That certainly doesn’t justify the institute of slavery, but given the time period (it was illegal to free a slave in Georgia at that time) they would have been worse off with a different owner. It was a way of life, for right or wrong, and they all seemed to appreciate being owned by such a good man who truly appreciated THEM. This view could be a problem for some readers.
Price’s characters are all complex and well-developed by the end of the book. It is well worth reading for the historical aspect, but the reader should be aware of the “positive” spin on slavery.
I have been a fan of Eugenia Price since a friend recommended her to me back in the early 1980s. Her Christian faith is strong (I’ve read some devotionals by her too.) As a life-long resident of Georgia, Ms Price spent hours pouring over historical documents, cemeteries, and library records to research the landmarks she writes about in her novels. Sadly, slavery is a dark blot on our nation’s history.
James Gould is a northerner who makes his living as a builder. He has a dream to someday build a lighthouse. Because of his northern upbringing and friendship with a man who is not just a mentor, but a black man, he resisted owning people when he moved south for work. He acquires his first when he witnesses a horrible display of a young woman at a slave auction as a “breeder.” He bought her to save her from the inevitable she would have received from the other bidder. Gould’s young wife was happy for the friendship she developed with Lonnie. He bought another boatload of Africans who were being forced to swim to shore. Again, he purchased them to rescue them from a slave trader. Gould wrestles with his guilt throughout the book, and feels he has betrayed his mentor and his own principles by owning other people. But, he treats them more as servants and employees, providing them with clothes, food, housing, and mostly respect. I feel he really values the contribution they make to his plantation and building projects. They are portrayed as delighting is pleasing him. Still, the question remains, were they better off with a man like James Gould than with someone who would work them to death and abuse them? That certainly doesn’t justify the institute of slavery, but given the time period (it was illegal to free a slave in Georgia at that time) they would have been worse off with a different owner. It was a way of life, for right or wrong, and they all seemed to appreciate being owned by such a good man who truly appreciated THEM. This view could be a problem for some readers.
Price’s characters are all complex and well-developed by the end of the book. It is well worth reading for the historical aspect, but the reader should be aware of the “positive” spin on slavery.
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