In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that ...
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In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that emerges is a rich, rugged Florida history featuring a memorable cast of crusty, indomitable Crackers battling wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the swamp. But their most formidable adversary turns out to be greed, including finally their own. Love and tenderness are here too: the hopes and passions of each new generation, friendships with the persecuted blacks and Indians, and respect for the land and its wildlife. A Land Remembered was winner of the Florida Historical Society's Tebeau Prize as the Most Outstanding Florida Historical Novel. Now in its 14th hardcover printing, it has been in print since 1984 and is also available in trade paperback.
Read Less
Not what I wanted. Wanted actual text/book this was a teaching guide to the textbook. Everything about the seller was fine, it was just my misunderstanding of the purchase.
Cheryl
Feb 10, 2011
After living in Florida most of my life, I received a new education about the State that is not taught there. Extremely interesting, a fun book to read, it is well worth the time to read it.
Raymond A
Dec 2, 2010
Highly Recommended.
A believable account of Florida's history and a most absorbing one. A real page turner.
ss319
Oct 29, 2009
Back in time
What a wonderful book. Anyone that lives in or visits Florida, outside of just going to Disney, should read this historical novel. The author paints in words, pictures of a time past that is far far different from the Florida of today.. Easy to read but very hard to put down.
CarolFromFlorida
May 4, 2009
Great Florida History
I loved this book. Having recently moved to Florida, I was pretty unaware of the history of this state. This story is captivating and very educational. In fact many Florida teachers use this book to help students become more aware of Florida's history. It takes us all the way from the Civil War right up to the late 20th century. Most of it revolves around the struggles of a cattle ranching family, that then expanded into citrus growing. We read this in my book group, which led to great discussion.
