"Alexander and Lazell"s delightful study of North Carolina"s Outer Banks contains a wealth of statistics and facts . . . A Ribbon of Sand--written in romantic prose--is more like a novel. . . . Small and lightweight with chapters of less than 20 pages, this is the perfect book to take on a trip to the North Carolina coast. Interesting and informative, you"ll look at a grain of sand or a wave with a whole new perspective."--TasteFull Ribbon of Sand is a rich and beautifully written exploration of the unique natural history and romantic past of the Outer Banks, the fragile barrier islands that stretch for almost two hundred miles down the North Carolina coast. A new preface discusses recent developments on the Banks, including the discovery and excavation of a wreck believed to be Blackbeard"s ship and the continuing threat of offshore oil drilling, and throughout the book the authors reveal the controversies, natural wonders, and fascinating legends that make the Outer Banks one of the nation"s most beloved treasures.