€5 off first Book Purchase of €50+ | With Code: CHAPTERSBOOKSTORE
'Dominic Gregory hasn't just delivered a survey of courage and determination - Lifeboat at the End of the World is a hymn to human decency, and that makes it a very timely book indeed' Tim Winton
Do you really think all lives are worth saving?
Do you really think all lives are worth saving?
On the empty shingle beach of Dungeness, the volunteer crew of the lifeboat await her next launch. It might come in another week. Or it might even happen in the next few seconds...
For two hundred years, the Dungeness lifeboat has launched in storms and heavy seas to frigates and barques, trawlers and dinghies. Like all lifeboat stations in the British Isles, it is led by a coxswain and staffed by volunteers. Dominic Gregory volunteers as part of her crew.
Dungeness is itself a place apart. An ever-shifting expanse of shingle jutting into the English Channel, it is overshadowed by its nuclear power station and made famous by Derek Jarman's flotsam garden. Dungeness also has where millions of migrating birds and insects first make landfall in the British Isles. As a small place perhaps, but one that finds itself now at the centre of one of the biggest political stories of modern times.
At the heart of this wonderful book is the lifeboat crew with whom Dominic Gregory serves, many of them from families who have volunteered for generations. These are remarkable yet ordinary men and women - who serve as shore crew, or boat crew, or who keep the records and brew the tea. All, in their different ways, give up their time, livelihoods and safety to brave wind, tide and storms, not to mention the peril of navigating between the vast floating skyscrapers that make up so much of modern shipping. Then there is coxswain Stuart Adams whose quiet, competent leadership ensures he acts as the still point in a spinning world.
Lifeboat at the End of the World is the first book to depict the experience of what it is like to volunteer on a lifeboat: the smells of the water, the little knots when an alarm comes, how the crew is trained, the teamwork and trust, the ethos of the service. But it is when inflatable dinghies - overloaded with people - begin arriving on the shores of Dungeness that the lifeboat crew must face perhaps their greatest test. Dominic Gregory's non-fiction writing offers extraordinary power and immediacy. While most of us will never serve in a lifeboat, we might find ourselves thankful for their unflinching and fearless assistance at sea.
- Publisher Name:HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008736798
- Author:Dominic Gregory
- Publication Date:2026-03-26
If you are not satisfied with your order in any way, get in touch. We have an excellent customer service record and we will do our best to ensure you are pleased with your purchase.
We are happy to refund a product if it is defective, within 30 days of purchase upon the return of your product. If you return a product to us and request a refund due to an error on our part we will be happy to pay for the postage cost to return it to us.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused & unread, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
Please note, if you are requesting a refund based on an issue with condition we kindly ask you to provide a photo in order for us to best advise a suitable resolution.
To start a return, you can contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com. If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return question at shop@chaptersbookstore.com.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like custom products or special orders. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.
Exchanges
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
Free Delivery in the Republic Of Ireland on all orders over €30. Standard Delivery Charge in Republic of Ireland of €5 for all orders below €30.
Delivery is subject to warehouse availability. Out-of-stock items will be shipped as soon as possible, upon arrival from the manufacturer/publisher. Please take shipping time into consideration.
