Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State (Unabridged)
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- $34.99
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- $34.99
Publisher Description
Over its long history, Florida has been many things: a native realm protected by geography; a wilderness that ruined Spanish conquistadors; a place to start over; "god's waiting room". With a native population as high as 900,000 (who all died), it became a pestilential backwater with a few thousand inhabitants, but today is our fourth most populous state, with 19 million. The site of vicious racial violence, including massacres, slavery, and the roll-back of Reconstruction, Florida is now one of our most diverse states, a dynamic multicultural place with an essential role in 21st century America.
However, the remarkable story of Florida has been distorted and whitewashed. In Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State, journalist T. D. Allman reclaims this remarkable history from the mythologizers, apologists, and boosters.
Allman traces the discovery, exploration, and settlement of Florida, its transformation from a swamp to a paradise. Palm Beach, Key West, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando boomed, fortunes were won and lost, land was stolen and flipped, and millions arrived.
The product of a decade of research and writing, Finding Florida is a highly original, stylish, and masterful work, the first modern comprehensive history of this fascinating place.
Customer Reviews
A hate letter to Florida
This book was enjoyable, a lot of really interesting history if you can look past the ultra woke tone of the book. I get the vibe that the author hates Florida and it’s people.
Deceptive
A fairly decent historical book but it so infused with hatred and disgust for the United States it makes it difficult to enjoy in anyway. The narrator's arrogance and desperation to demonstrate his superiority is ridiculous. Save your money!
Excellent
I finally bought the audio version of this book after purchasing multiple copies of the paperback for myself and friends over several years. As a longtime Florida transplant from California residing in St. Augustine for 45 years I’ve heard so many conflicting yet knowingly bogus stories that I was elated to finally learn the truth. Incredibly well researched and hilariously written.