Edgar (E.J.) Watson was a historic person born in 1855 who lived through the horrible Florida hurricane of 1910. He was a hero to some and a villain to others. Matthiessen takes snippets of history and an assortment of folks who supposedly knew the story of Watson to give readers all the possibilities. The eyewitnesses disagree about the circumstances surrounding Watson's life and death in southwestern Florida. However, we learn much more about the thinking of the time and the Florida land before it is developed. The area and people are portrayed as wild and primitive. So many disregard nature by attempting to conquer and control it. The author includes descriptions of inaccurate weather forecasting, surviving and succumbing to hurricanes, and their aftereffects. In general, many humans were misguided in thinking they could destroy humans, animals, vegetation, and whatever was in the way without consequence.

Some of the places depicted include:
Ten Thousand Islands
Everglades
Okeechobee
Chokoloskee
Possum Key
Monroe County
Lee County

Some of the distinguishing characteristics, traits, features, or hallmarks of "old Florida" include:
Counties and governorship
Deputies
Sheriffs
Crackers, Baptist Crackers
Draining Okeechobee
The Calusa: "The Shell Indians" shell mounds
Calusa mounds
Natives, Blacks, Biracial people
Chain gangs
Posses
Wild bird eggs
Reconstruction
Seminole Wars
Harvesting skins
Plume wars
See my reviews at https://quipsandquotes.net/ ( )

Really 3.5 stars. So difficult to get through. I loved the material, but there were too many "voices," some of whom sounded so much alike I had to keep flipping back to keep their stories straight. Gives a good feel for that area of Florida around turn of century. Warning: it is written in voices of people from that era, prejudices and hatred in full bloom! ( )

Really 3.5 stars. So difficult to get through. I loved the material, but there were too many "voices," some of whom sounded so much alike I had to keep flipping back to keep their stories straight. Gives a good feel for that area of Florida around turn of century. Warning: it is written in voices of people from that era, prejudices and hatred in full bloom! ( )

An interesting story set in Florida just after the turn of the century. It was very confusing with all the people featured, and it just seemed to drag on forever. Good insight into the culture of the gulf coast of south central Florida. ( )

Compelling, fictionalized account of the killing of a historical figure in turn of the 20th century Everglades. The recent death of Matthiessen drew me back to this book that I had started once before but left unfinished. The story is told from a multitude of different perspectives and sheds light on prejudices in the South during this time period. Fascinating approach. ( )