Finding Florida: The True History of the Sunshine State

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Item specifics

Condition
Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including scuff marks, but no holes or tears. The dust jacket for hard covers may not be included. Binding has minimal wear. The majority of pages are undamaged with minimal creasing or tearing, minimal pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. No missing pages. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
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“Jacket has light wear, top edge is dinged, spine ends are lightly worn, binding sound, book edge is ...
ISBN
9780802120762
Book Title
Finding Florida
Publisher
GROVE/Atlantic, Incorporated
Item Length
9 in
Publication Year
2013
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Item Height
1.8 in
Author
T. D. Allman
Genre
History
Topic
United States / State & Local / South (Al, Ar, Fl, Ga, Ky, La, ms, Nc, SC, Tn, VA, WV)
Item Weight
31.7 Oz
Item Width
6 in
Number of Pages
528 Pages
Category

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
GROVE/Atlantic, Incorporated
ISBN-10
0802120768
ISBN-13
9780802120762
eBay Product ID (ePID)
143646380

Product Key Features

Book Title
Finding Florida
Number of Pages
528 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2013
Topic
United States / State & Local / South (Al, Ar, Fl, Ga, Ky, La, ms, Nc, SC, Tn, VA, WV)
Genre
History
Author
T. D. Allman
Format
Hardcover

Dimensions

Item Height
1.8 in
Item Weight
31.7 Oz
Item Length
9 in
Item Width
6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Reviews
"Gripping."--Steve Yoder, Salon.com "A magisterial rip at the state's invaders, conquerors and rulers."--Mark I. Pinsky, Orlando Magazine "Allman's engaging, eye-opening, and heavily researched history of Florida spans half a millennium, from the myth of Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth to the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and it is a fulsome cavalcade of would-be conquistadors, epically corrupt and racist politicians, and oligarchwannabes." - Booklist "An immense and important work." --Maud Newton, Bookforum "I loved Allman's extraordinary book. ... Almost every county in Florida bears the name of a butcher, a slavedriver, a madman, a scoundrel or a thief, in a state where for half a millennium the governing mandate seems to be Defeat the Truth, Triumph over Reality. T.D. Allman's counter-narrative to all the pretty lies is a scouring hurricane of research, investigation, and soul-cleansing wrath, and I doubt there has ever been a better, or more important, book written about the Sunshine State, the birthplace of imperial hubris, American-style." --Bob Shacochis, author of The Immaculate Invasion "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University "An extraordinary tome . . . Finding Florida offers a history lesson that is long overdue -- The Birmingham Times "For the general reader, Finding Florida is a catalyst for hearty discussions and more reading."-- Authentic Florida " Finding Florida is fascinating, comprehensive, and accessible to the non-specialist reader. While Allman covers an enormous amount of material--taking Florida from uninhabited swampland to the sidewalk culture of South Beach--he does so in such engaging ways that the reader is never overwhelmed. Indeed, each chapter is in itself a satisfying and illuminating narrative, stock full of vivid characters. Somehow he has managed to pull together a compelling read without sacrificing historical substance, a feat to which many professional historians aspire. His wry voice conveys a point of view that gently pushes readers to understand Florida as an American synecdoche." --Glenda Gilmore, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University, "Gripping."--Salon.com "A magisterial rip at the state's invaders, conquerors and rulers."-- Orlando Magazine "Allman's engaging, eye-opening, and heavily researched history of Florida spans half a millennium, from the myth of Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth to the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and it is a fulsome cavalcade of would-be conquistadors, epically corrupt and racist politicians, and oligarchwannabes." - Booklist "An immense and important work." -- Bookforum "I loved Allman's extraordinary book. ... Almost every county in Florida bears the name of a butcher, a slavedriver, a madman, a scoundrel or a thief, in a state where for half a millennium the governing mandate seems to be Defeat the Truth, Triumph over Reality. T.D. Allman's counter-narrative to all the pretty lies is a scouring hurricane of research, investigation, and soul-cleansing wrath, and I doubt there has ever been a better, or more important, book written about the Sunshine State, the birthplace of imperial hubris, American-style." --Bob Shacochis, author of The Immaculate Invasion "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University "An extraordinary tome . . . Finding Florida offers a history lesson that is long overdue -- The Birmingham Times "For the general reader, Finding Florida is a catalyst for hearty discussions and more reading."-- Authentic Florida " Finding Florida is fascinating, comprehensive, and accessible to the non-specialist reader. While Allman covers an enormous amount of material--taking Florida from uninhabited swampland to the sidewalk culture of South Beach--he does so in such engaging ways that the reader is never overwhelmed. Indeed, each chapter is in itself a satisfying and illuminating narrative, stock full of vivid characters. Somehow he has managed to pull together a compelling read without sacrificing historical substance, a feat to which many professional historians aspire. His wry voice conveys a point of view that gently pushes readers to understand Florida as an American synecdoche." --Glenda Gilmore, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University " Finding Florida is a must-read for any Florida resident who is interested in the state's history." -- EU Jacksonville Magazine, "Allman's engaging, eye-opening, and heavily researched history of Florida spans half a millennium, from the myth of Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth to the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and it is a fulsome cavalcade of would-be conquistadors, epically corrupt and racist politicians, and oligarchwannabes." - Booklist "An immense and important work." --Maud Newton, Bookforum "I loved Allman's extraordinary book. ... Almost every county in Florida bears the name of a butcher, a slavedriver, a madman, a scoundrel or a thief, in a state where for half a millennium the governing mandate seems to be Defeat the Truth, Triumph over Reality. T.D. Allman's counter-narrative to all the pretty lies is a scouring hurricane of research, investigation, and soul-cleansing wrath, and I doubt there has ever been a better, or more important, book written about the Sunshine State, the birthplace of imperial hubris, American-style." --Bob Shacochis, author of The Immaculate Invasion "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University "An extraordinary tome . . . Finding Florida offers a history lesson that is long overdue -- The Birmingham Times "For the general reader, Finding Florida is a catalyst for hearty discussions and more reading."-- Authentic Florida " Finding Florida is fascinating, comprehensive, and accessible to the non-specialist reader. While Allman covers an enormous amount of material--taking Florida from uninhabited swampland to the sidewalk culture of South Beach--he does so in such engaging ways that the reader is never overwhelmed. Indeed, each chapter is in itself a satisfying and illuminating narrative, stock full of vivid characters. Somehow he has managed to pull together a compelling read without sacrificing historical substance, a feat to which many professional historians aspire. His wry voice conveys a point of view that gently pushes readers to understand Florida as an American synecdoche." --Glenda Gilmore, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University, "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University, "An extraordinary tome . . . Finding Florida offers a history lesson that is long overdue -- The Birmingham Times "For the general reader, Finding Florida is a catalyst for hearty discussions and more reading."-- Authentic Florida "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University, "A magisterial rip at the state's invaders, conquerors and rulers."--Mark I. Pinsky, Orlando Magazine "Allman's engaging, eye-opening, and heavily researched history of Florida spans half a millennium, from the myth of Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth to the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and it is a fulsome cavalcade of would-be conquistadors, epically corrupt and racist politicians, and oligarchwannabes." - Booklist "An immense and important work." --Maud Newton, Bookforum "I loved Allman's extraordinary book. ... Almost every county in Florida bears the name of a butcher, a slavedriver, a madman, a scoundrel or a thief, in a state where for half a millennium the governing mandate seems to be Defeat the Truth, Triumph over Reality. T.D. Allman's counter-narrative to all the pretty lies is a scouring hurricane of research, investigation, and soul-cleansing wrath, and I doubt there has ever been a better, or more important, book written about the Sunshine State, the birthplace of imperial hubris, American-style." --Bob Shacochis, author of The Immaculate Invasion "Equal parts social analysis, historical review, and jeremiad, Finding Florida is a passionate, often scathing, and remarkably comprehensive encounter with a confounding, contradictory, and ever-elusive place. If your idea of hell is being chained to a galley oar between a politician and a Chamber of Commerce exec, then you are likely to love this book." --Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise "Manuscripts repeatedly find their way into print that ignore the reality of Florida's past and, in so doing, skew our understanding of what Florida has been, what it is now, what it's likely to become, and what that means for everyone. T. D. Allman's book turns all that on its head. It directly challenges the existing historiography with highly intelligent insight and crafting of narrative in a way that permits the reader to immerse himself in a world far from the expected one. Finding Florida is provocative to the point of daring. Thomas Jefferson claimed a little revolution was needed about every twenty years. Florida and its historiography is long overdue for one." --Canter Brown, Jr., Professor of History, Fort Valley State University "An extraordinary tome . . . Finding Florida offers a history lesson that is long overdue -- The Birmingham Times "For the general reader, Finding Florida is a catalyst for hearty discussions and more reading."-- Authentic Florida " Finding Florida is fascinating, comprehensive, and accessible to the non-specialist reader. While Allman covers an enormous amount of material--taking Florida from uninhabited swampland to the sidewalk culture of South Beach--he does so in such engaging ways that the reader is never overwhelmed. Indeed, each chapter is in itself a satisfying and illuminating narrative, stock full of vivid characters. Somehow he has managed to pull together a compelling read without sacrificing historical substance, a feat to which many professional historians aspire. His wry voice conveys a point of view that gently pushes readers to understand Florida as an American synecdoche." --Glenda Gilmore, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University
Synopsis
Longlisted for the National Book Award and a Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year Over the centuries, Florida has been many things: an unconquered realm protected by geography, a wilderness that ruined Spanish conquistadors, "god's waiting room," and a place to start over. Depopulated after the extermination of its original native population, today it's home to nineteen 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. In Finding Florida , journalist T.D. Allman reclaims the remarkable history of Florida from the state's mythologizers, apologists, and boosters. Allman traces the discovery, exploration, and settlement of Florida, its transformation from a swamp to "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., Over its long history, Florida has been many things: an Edenic realm protected by geography; a wilderness that ruined Spanish conquistads&tadors; a place to start over; and "god's waiting room." With a native population as high as 900,000 (who all died), it became a pestilential backwater, but today is our fourth most populous state. The site of vicious racial violence, including massacres, genocide, slavery, and the terrorist campaigns that undid Reconstruction, Florida is now one of our most diverse states, a dynamic multicultural place with an essential role in 21st century America. From the very first, however, the remarkable story of Florida has been distorted and whitewashed. In Finding Florida , T.D. Allman reclaims this remarkable history from the mythologizers, apologists, and boosters. He shows Florida as it was and is, tracing its history through the pre-Columbian era, and under Spanish, French, and British rule. He describes the 19th century American maneuvers to take this territory it coveted, the importation of slavery following Andrew Jackson's military campaigns, and the terrible violence of the Seminole Wars. Florida became a state in 1845; sixteen years later it would secede. In Florida, Allman writers, two Civil Wars unfolded. First was the actual war, then came the imaginary one, where brutality and ruin were transformed into a selfless struggle to defend a noble cause that never existed. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Florida was sold as paradise, with tourism replacing slavery as the dominant activity. 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 history of this important place. "Fascinating, comprehensive, and accessible to the non-specialist reader. ... [Allman] has managed to pull together a compelling read without sacrificing historical substance."--Glenda Gilmore, Professor of History, Yale University

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  • by oo-dick
    Apr 21, 2017

    A really fun read by a well-informed author.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: betterworldbookswest

  • by kellerb43
    Aug 10, 2021

    a tourist expedition to Florida in a neat book

    A great preparation for Florida.Beautifully illustrated and written by someone who lives here.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-Owned

  • by atreeman
    Oct 12, 2015

    Excellent History on Florida. The real thing.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: goodwillorlando

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