OCRACOKE: The Pearl of The Outer Banks

"Ocracoke: The Pearl of the Outer Banks," the fourth book in Ray McAllister's award-winning North Carolina coastal series, is a look at the history, the people and the continuing allure of the remote, white-sanded island that draws tens of thousands of tourists each year.

"Ocracoke" tells the island's story from the early days of Native Americans and European explorers to today's artists, musicians, fishermen and bicycle-riding tourists. Along the way, it shares the stories of Blackbeard the Pirate's bloody demise, German U-boat attacks off Ocracoke's coast, and the role of the iconic 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouse.

Here, too, are portraits of ferries full of visitors, a legendary herd of once-wild ponies, miles of nationally honored beaches, the charmingly unpaved Howard Street and the poignantly serene British Cemetery - along with the inside stories of what draws families back year after year, generation after generation.

"Ocracoke" also presents a striking new proposal from Dr. Stephen Leatherman, the world-famous Dr. Beach, to enhance Ocracoke's reputation as a world-class walking village.

"Ocracoke: The Pearl of the Outer Banks" is a delightful look at what makes Ocracoke special - and likely always will.