use in their library.

Local artist, Mrs. Joy Bluck Waters gave two copies of her book, `Eugene O'Neill and Family; A Bermuda Interlude', to Dr. Edward Harris, director to the museum yesterday.

The book is about the former famous inhabitants of Spithead, an historical home on Harbour Road, owned by Mrs. Bluck Waters.

O'Neill, an American dramatist, owned Spithead from 1924 until 1952. His daughter, Oona, went on to marry Charlie Chaplin.

The Nobel and Pulitzer prize winner wrote `Strange Interlude' while living in the home. Mrs. Bluck Waters said that O'Neill considered Spithead a good place to work.

Most of the research for the book was done in the United States, but local stories about O'Neill contributed previously unknown information about the man and his family.

"Without these stories there wouldn't be a book,'' said Mrs. Bluck Waters, who is grateful to all the people she spoke to.

The house was originally built in 1780, by Hezekiah Smith, a privateer who used to dock his frigates at the water-side house.

He even managed to capture a "French prize'' during the Napoleonic Wars, said Mrs. Bluck Waters.

The well-known artist had previously contributed copies of the book to the Bermuda Public Library. Mrs. Bluck Waters was only too happy to do the same for the Maritime Museum.

The museum has a small research library and is grateful for any Bermuda books, said Dr. Harris.

"It will be a nice addition to the library,'' he added.

The book is on sale now at stores around the Island for $27.50.

HISTORICAL DONATION -- Mrs. Joy Bluck Waters donates two of her books, titled `Eugene O'Neill and Family; The Bermuda Interlude', to Dr. Edward Harris, director of the Maritime Museum.