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Cover of A Land Remembered

A Land Remembered

First published 1984 · 403 pages

A sweeping, multi-generational epic that traces the rugged survival and eventual exploitation of the untamed Florida frontier.

What it feels like

This sweeping historical epic unfolds with a steady, grounded pace, immersing readers in the raw, rugged atmosphere of the early Florida frontier. The mood shifts gradually from the desperate, earthy grit of bare survival to a more reflective, complex atmosphere as the landscape is tamed and ultimately exploited. The prose feels rich and expansive, mirroring the vastness of the natural world and the relentless pioneer spirit of the generations it chronicles. It is a story deeply rooted in the soil, exploring the heavy emotional toll of progress and the transformation of a family alongside the land they inhabit. This book will deeply satisfy readers who crave multi-generational sagas that capture the fierce will to survive against all odds.

Mood
  • sweeping
  • harsh
  • nostalgic
  • earthy
Tone
  • earnest
  • rugged
  • epic
  • reflective
Pace
steady
Themes
generational legacy · survival against all odds · environmental exploitation · pioneer spirit · human relationship to the land
The writing
Rich and rugged, capturing the sweeping scale of history and the raw texture of the natural world.
The arc
Moves from the desperate grit of bare survival to the complex, hollow triumph of wealth and environmental exploitation.
Who it's for
Readers who love sweeping, multi-generational historical epics that trace the transformation of a rugged landscape and the families who tame it.
Content notes
  • environmental destruction
  • poverty and hardship

About the book

Here are three generations of the MacIvey family, from dirt-poor Crackers to wealthy real estate tycoons, in an epic portrayal of the American pioneer will to survive against all odds. Here is the sweeping story of the land, how at first bare survival is scratched from it and then how it is exploited far beyond human need. Here is a rich, rugged history of Florida’s pioneer spirit and natural world.

Winner of the Florida Historical Society’s Tebeau Prize as the Most Outstanding Florida Historical Novel.

Chosen as the title for the One Community One Book program for many counties in Florida in 2003-2004.

Description from Open Library.

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