Patrick D. Smith (1927–2014)

A Land Remembered provides an incredible Florida story, and I quickly read the more than 400 pages in the book. The book follows three generations of the MacIvey family as they grow from subsistence living to wealthy, influential landowners. The story begins before the American Civil War when Florida is mostly swampland and prairie. The Feds teach the fictional Tobias McIvey to herd cattle during the war, and he then uses his skills to travel across the state as the first settlers of Florida show more did. He and his family learn to cope with alligators, bears, wild hogs, and other wildlife. Additionally, the Florida weather, marked by extreme heat, a summer rainy season, and horrific hurricanes, provides severe challenges for Tobias, his wife Emma, and their son Zech.

Early in this historical novel, Tobias meets Kevin Tiger, a Seminole. Unlike other white men, Tobias was quick to offer the Seminole shelter, and his kindness led to a lifetime friendship that continued with his son Zech and grandson Sol. Throughout the story, Tobias and his family continue to appreciate valuable lessons from their Seminole friends. For example, the Seminoles provide dogs and horses, which make their travel more manageable. They also offer intangible advice about medicine and edible plants. Most importantly, the older MacIveys learn how to live in concert with the land instead of destroying it as other Florida settlers were known to do. Throughout the book, when faced with the selfishness and greed of other Florida developers, Smith brings his characters back to recognizing the Seminole precepts of respect for the land to thrive and survive.

Tobias also invites an escaped slave, Skillit, to travel with the family and provide much-needed labor. Through his characters, Smith conveys a beautiful message about the ability of people from many backgrounds to live in harmony and respect each person’s humanity. Tobias always insists on paying his workers and recognizing that he needs assistance to survive in the Florida landscape. Tobias’s son, Zech, eventually takes over the family business and continues acquiring cattle, land, and wealth. This author beautifully develops the characters of Zech and his wife, Glenda. The reader learns how they manage despite cattle rustlers, bushwhackers, and tycoons. This book's literary value is enhanced by including Zech’s inner conflicts, which depict his humanity and difficult life choices. I was particularly struck by the ruminations about how animals share resources and humans fight over them. There is a statement about how even the hated wolf kills only for food.

Only with Sol MacIvey, the third generation to manage the business, some deception enters into business practices. Smith does a great job of showing how more recent Florida settlers have had less reverence for the land and its original design. The changes play out in the family relations with the Seminoles and practices, such as fencing animals and attempting to exercise more control over nature. This book is an engaging story depicting Florida and its people from 1863 to 1968. I highly recommend it.
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Anyone who has lived in Florida for more than an hour realizes that it has steadily and inexorably been developed and overdeveloped since Henry Flagler came down for the winter in 1876. Patrick D. Smith writes about how development has encroached on the Everglades from the viewpoint of the Seminole Indians that live there.

Forever Island and Allapattah were two of Smith’s novels published separately in 1973 and 1979. Pineapple Press in Sarasota published them together in one volume in show more 1987, which is still in print. The white man and developers are the enemy in both stories.

In Forever Island, Charlie Jumper is an aging Seminole who lives in the old way – in a camp of chickee huts in the Big Cypress Swamp with no electricity. He teaches his grandson the old Indian skills – hunting and fishing and respecting the land. Developers begin to push into the Everglades and build homes, and Charlie’s way of life is about to end abruptly.

In Allapattah, Toby Tiger is a young Indian who is convinced that “the white men destroy all that they touch.” His parents died in a fire that swept through their hammock after white hunters tried to flush deer by burning their cover. Toby is angrier and clashes with white men more than Charlie. They are both fighting an uphill battle by trying to live in the way of their fathers in opposition to modern forces.

While both stories have a powerful message, they stand alone as well-written novels with compelling characters, and deserve to be read by as many Florida residents as possible. show less

The history of Florida from the Civil War into the 20th century, following the MacIvey family for a few generations. I didn't know much about this time period in Florida, despite having been there several times and living only one state over, so I thoroughly enjoyed learning what I did. The characters are realistic and compelling, and I enjoyed the fact that this history is told through the lives of regular working people, not wealthy citizens. The time period needs to be taken into show more consideration when reading it, which is not a problem for me but might be for some. show less

It bothers me some that there are no other members will do not have this powerful book in their library. Smith is a southern writer (small S) who has usually lived his material. As a resident of Belle Glade in the late 1970s, I can assure that the labor camps he writes about are still there, but much more carefully hidden from the passersby.
An illegal immigrant will live with 10 to 15 otheers in a concrete block one room building with no toilet or running water or windows. Within walking show more distance there will be a "company store" where he can get untaxed strong wine for a buck. Also, within the camp or nearby will be young or not so young whores for his pleasure. show less