In this captivating memoir, the author, a former Governor General of the Bahamas, transports readers to the remote Bahamian islands of the early 20th century through his vivid recollections of childhood and his experiences as a young teacher. The first half immerses us in his youth on Long Island, where his aunts provided his early education before the stern Mr.

Wells at the local school. We follow his academic triumphs, skipping grades under the tutelage of local officials.

Evocative details, like the devastation of the 1908 hurricane, bring to life the daily rhythms and challenges of this close-knit island community. The second half chronicles the author's teaching post on isolated Acklins Island in 1925 at just 20 years old.

His arduous journey there by mail boat is enlivened by an encounter with a Canadian treasure hunter. Upon arriving in the tiny settlement of Pompey Bay, he paints a vibrant picture of island life, from the school's sandy beachfront to the occupations of fishing and harvesting cascarilla bark.

With rich descriptions of his role educating over 100 pupils, surviving hurricanes, and forging bonds within the warm community, this memoir offers a rare window into a vanished era of the Bahamian Out Islands. .