Once Upon an Island
Encyclopedia
Once Upon an Island is a non-fiction book written by David Conover
Publisher: Crown Publishers Inc., New York (1967)
The book is a first person account of how one man followed his dream of owning and living on his own island.
n couple purchased an uninhabited island off the British Columbia
n coast and set out to turn it into a summer resort. Equipped with absolutely no know-how or experience, but with a supply of tools and books purchased before leaving Los Angeles
and a resolute determination to realize their dream they went to their home in the wild which, on more than one occasion in their first year almost left them defeated.
The book is an account of an earnest but amateurish effort to perform plumbing
, carpentry
, well digging, and boat navigation
, which produced nearly fatal results and financial ruin. The story is told with a good humor, sensitivity, and insightful philosophy.
Mrs Conover earned money to help the family income by drawing pictures of the animals and birds she saw all over their island and selling them to the greeting card companies. Also, they were able to build a few small cabins to rent out and that too helped them financially.
They declared the island a sanctuary in that no animal would have to fear for its life. All wildlife was allowed to roam free from all human interference and because of that the island was soon a haven and breeding place for all the wildlife who eventually became unafraid of humans.
David Conover
David Conover was an author and documentary photographer who is credited with discovering Marilyn Monroe while taking photos for Yank magazine.His published writings include:...
Publisher: Crown Publishers Inc., New York (1967)
The book is a first person account of how one man followed his dream of owning and living on his own island.
Plot summary
David Conover and his wife risked everything they had and even went into debt to pursue their dream. In spite of countless warnings and predictions of disastrous outcomes, the southern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n couple purchased an uninhabited island off the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
n coast and set out to turn it into a summer resort. Equipped with absolutely no know-how or experience, but with a supply of tools and books purchased before leaving Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and a resolute determination to realize their dream they went to their home in the wild which, on more than one occasion in their first year almost left them defeated.
The book is an account of an earnest but amateurish effort to perform plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
, carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, well digging, and boat navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
, which produced nearly fatal results and financial ruin. The story is told with a good humor, sensitivity, and insightful philosophy.
Mrs Conover earned money to help the family income by drawing pictures of the animals and birds she saw all over their island and selling them to the greeting card companies. Also, they were able to build a few small cabins to rent out and that too helped them financially.
They declared the island a sanctuary in that no animal would have to fear for its life. All wildlife was allowed to roam free from all human interference and because of that the island was soon a haven and breeding place for all the wildlife who eventually became unafraid of humans.