500 Years of Island Life - Paperback

by Peter Lihou (Author)

From the early 1400s to the 21st century, the island of Guernsey was a microcosm of society edging its way from feudalism towards democracy. During those 500 years, the Lihou family worked and lived on the island and their story is woven into many of the great events that have shaped, not just the island, but the wider world. Sixteen generations of the Lihou family span the half-millennium of this story and with each generation, a unique view of the society and context of their everyday lives unfolds. Where historical records have established the facts, as with Parish registers, they have been included. Oral history, books and reports have also provided much of the historical detail. But where no such records exist, conjecture has been used to create a possible version of events, which affords a rare glimpse into the lives of our ancestors.

Author Biography

Born in 1950, Peter Lihou was brought up in the years when World War Two was still a recent memory and the 'Cold War' cast its shadow over our planet. When de-mobbed from the RAF, Peter's father chose not to return immediately to his island home, and instead sought work in various towns and cities across England. It was not until Peter was 12 years of age; that the family moved back to Guernsey, although visiting the island and his grandparents had been an annual event. Throughout his subsequent life, Peter has moved home between Guernsey and England several times, the relocations mostly driven by a compromise between earning a living and pursuing a desire to sail and be close to the sea. In 2008, Peter's debut novel 'Rachel's Shoe' was published and he went on to write four more books before embarking on this story about the lives of his ancestors. With the passing of his parents, and many elderly relatives, he became acutely aware that the oral history of his family was being lost. He decided therefore to create a record for future generations. Rather than simply a genealogical account, he has given each generation a voice and a place in the history of their day.