Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers

This history of the Pea Island Lifesavers is beautifully written so that the story captivates from start to finish. In fact, I wasn't sure that this was my kind of book, but the early, vivid description of the dangerous coast and the duties of the men who walked the Outer Banks looking for shipwrecks hour after hour convinced me that I had to read the whole book. Clearly well researched, this book taught me a great deal about the Civil War and U.S. maritime history but, more importantly, explored the humanity in our country's history. It takes saavy authors to recognize that the real beginning of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station begins not with its inception but with the lives of the men, namely Richard Etheridge, who served there. Because of the emphasis on people and place, the book reads quite like a novel and, therefore, can be appreciated by a wide audience. Fire on the Beach deserves to be read, for it demonstrates that history must be revealed and retold with all its contradictions, complications, and individuals.

I am admittedly not a history buff. I do however treasure the three years I was lucky enough to live on North Carolina's Outer Banks. "Fire on the Beach" was recommended to me & now I would like to pass that gift on to anyone who reads these reviews. This book tells a fantastic tale of a man & a period of time that are both truly inspiring. It does not read like a "historical text", but more like a well plotted out novel. If you have any interest in Post Civil War South, Turn of the century maritime history, North Carolina's Outer Banks, or the US Coast Guard, do not pass this book up!

This compelling history will appeal to many different audiences, including those interested in the Civil War (particularly in the U.S. Colored Troops), the complex politics and relationships of Reconstruction, maritime history and shipwrecks, and the Outerbanks region of North Carolina. The authors have pieced together an enlightening and engaging life story of a special man in a unique time in US history. The amazing perseverance of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers is brought to life by Wright and Zoby. I strongly recommend this book.

David Zoby and David Wright take us through the breathtaking life journey of former slave Richard Etheridge in the late 1800's. Unlike many other historical accounts, Zoby and Wright reveal an intricately woven tale that flows brilliantly through the Civil War, the Reconstruction and on through the formation of the U.S. Live-Saving Service. This is a compelling story about a man who retains his dignity and integrity during a time when black people had no voice. The hardships endured by those early lifesavers that willingly put their lives at risk to save the victims of shipwrecks are memorably expressed in the detailed descriptions of the land and the power of the sea. I now have this compelling urge to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Not only does this book recapture an important moment lost in history, but recreates it for us through a sea-faring adventure of the highest order.This is a fantastic books for those interested in the southern history like, April 1865, or nautical adventure stories like, In The Heart of the Sea.