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The Florida Keys: A History of the Pioneers (Florida's History Through Its Places) | 
 enlarge | Author: John Viele
Publisher: Pineapple Press (FL)
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $10.44
You Save: $6.51 (38%)
New (16) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $8.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 61273
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 154
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.7 x 0.8
ISBN: 1561641014
Dewey Decimal Number: 975.941
EAN: 9781561641017
ASIN: 1561641014
Publication Date: March 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Book Description
Today, on the Keys between Key West and the mainland, some 40,000 residents and thousands of visitors fish, swim, sail, and dive in the crystal clear waters off a tropical reef; relax in the sun and cooling tradewind breezes; and sleep in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes and hotel rooms. On these same islands, as short a time as 80 years ago, fewer than 300 inhabitants tried to eke out a living without benefit of electricity, running water, radios, or telephones. Tormented by clouds of voracious mosquitoes and no-see-ums, broiled by the tropical sun, they lived in thatched-roof homes regularly flattened by hurricane winds. Weeks would go by before some passing sailboat brought them news of the outside world or their relatives. The stories of these hardy pioneers and their predecessors, as far back as the Native Americans who lived on the Keys at least 1,000 years ago, are told, many for the first time, in this book. Using old newspapers, letters, diaries, and government records, as well as interviews with old-timer natives of the Keys, the author has brought to life the trials and successes of Keys pioneers as they struggled to build a life for themselves and their loved ones in an often harsh environment. From the earliest Keys inhabitants, who plundered wrecks on the reef and either murdered or rescued the survivors according to whether they were English or Spanish, to the early-20th-century landowner who built a tower in an attempt to lure mosquito-eating bats, inhabitants of the Keys have coped with nature and other human beings as best they could. Their occupations have included such diverse ventures as salvaging wrecks, growing sponges, planting pineapples, making charcoal, and skinning sharks. The author has written an affectionate and respectful account of the early life of one of Florida's most treasured areas.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Factual storytelling at its absolute best January 26, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I am not much of a one for factual books, as I like to be told a great story, and not have to look for it amongst the facts. I can't help it, it's just the way I'm made! I was delightfully surprised with Mr Viele's work. He is a natural storyteller, the best gift of all writers. The real life tales of early settlers in the Florida Keys, before and during the days of the railroad, are absolutely fascinating. I found myself as engrossed as if I was reading a thriller, drama, detective novel...I know, I sound so shallow! I had the great honor of meeting Mr Viele, and was thrilled to hear about how the book happened and evolved. The depth of research that apparently went into uncovering the events in the lives of the Keys Pioneers, is I think what makes me feel like I am being told stories from the heart. As a Keys resident deeply interested in the history of this unique place, I tried many other books first, but this is the one to read, to REALLY experience the Keys as it must have been, when the first strong and sometimes eccentric Pioneers chose to brave remote island living, extreme heat, mosquitos and hurricanes, Pioneers whose names can be found all over the Keys to this day, where streets, waterways and buildings are dedicated to their memory.
Keys History-very interesting February 27, 2003
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I picked this book up at Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys out of curiousity and could not put it down. I am a frequent visitor to the keys and found the stories enlightning due to my knowledge of the area. Good illustrations and facts about the area. I look forward to reading the next two in the series. This book will inform you about the conditions and ways of life in the Keys in the early days. You will also start to recognize landmarks and features named after people in this book. A good read
 Good overview of pre-WW2 history of the Keys June 2, 1998
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
I bought this book in Key West after looking for a decent overview of the history of the Florida Keys. This is the best that I've found so far.The book works through a specific era, starting with general information about the time, and ending each chapter with one or two stories about a specific resident of the Keys. These stories are what make the book truly interesting. Each chapter has a small map indicating the notable Keys of the period. The book covers the time span from pre-European settlement to just before World War II. Viele goes into detail about the wrecking industry, sponging, and farming of the Keys. The details of Flagler's railroad and the Overseas Highway are well covered, but perhaps not as well as some of the books dedicated to these subjects. There are good black and white illustrations and historical photos throughout. My only complaint is that the book stops before WWII, leaving many years left to be covered.
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