Some Kind of Paradise: A Chronicle of Man and the Land in Florida by Mark Derr

From the Publisher

For 500 years, visitors to Florida have discovered magic. In Some Kind of Paradise, an eloquent social and environmental history of the state, Mark Derr describes how this exotic land is fast becoming a victim of its own allure. Written with both tenderness and alarm, Derr's book presents competing views of Florida: a paradise to be protected and nurtured or a frontier to be exploited and conquered.

Publishers Weekly

Ambitious, comprehensive and generally successful, Derr's study of the country's most-visited state combines ecological, demographic, economic information with political and cultural history. In his account of the area's exploration, colonization and development, the author also portrays the developers, migrants and foreign laborers who shaped the state, primarily for the benefit of winter residents, retirees and tourists. Chief among the 19th-century entrepreneurs were friends and rivals Henry Plant and Henry Flagler, master builders of cities and resorts, whose vast rail systems opened up the peninsula and fostered exploitation of all kinds, including plantation slavery. The panoramic narrative is animated by anecdotes, novel details and flavorful images of Florida's motley settlers. Freelance writer Derr cautions that the outcome of the current war between developers and environmentalists will depend on ``controlled'' growth and wise administration of the state's resources. Photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)

Library Journal

Derr's attempt to write an environmental history of Florida falls short. While he describes the state's varied geography and how people have affected it, he concentrates heavily on the east and southwest coasts and the Everglades with scant mention of north Florida and the Panhandle. Derr consistently ignores north Florida in his discussion of areas ranging from land use--conservation parks, tobacco farms, and quail plantations--to race riots. Four chapters on the history of Florida, from discovery and exploration to Reconstruction, disrupt the rhythm of his narrative and provide no ecological tie-ins. In addition to relying on standard, often outdated, books and ignoring other seminal works, Derr's footnoting is inconsistent. Only for comprehensive collections of Florida history.-- Susan Hamburger, Virginia State Lib. & Archives, Richmond

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents