The Everglades have enchanted and inspired many who visited or lived there. Here are a few books that may be helpful to read if planning on seeing the glades or just want to know more about them.
The Everglades: River of Grass by Marjory Stoneman Douglas
River of Grass is a thorough historical account of the founding, establishment, and environmental history of Florida. With its opening at the essential nature of the area, it travels through the native people, the conquerors, and concludes with the present park founding and warns of future impacts. Despite the fact that Douglas only became involved in the Everglades in later life, her work spurred an environmental uproar. Reading her passionate words of a unique paradise, lost is sure to evoke a longing for a sort of harmony between the modern world and this weathered land.
Her accounts tell about the naming of some of the Ten Thousand Islands and of a few of the more infamous outlaws that found shelter in the maze of mangroves. She exposes the numerous government plans to dredge and drain the land and relocate the Native Americans living in the swamps. The picturesque scenes of a living green river, overflowing with wildlife, even after the centuries of abuse by the white man prove that even this delicate environment can withstand great molestation. This may be its greatest fault.
Douglas reminds any Floridian that a history of adventure, mystery, and beauty exists very close to home. Though it may seem like excitement can only be found in a far off jungle land, this piece of literature points out that the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands, and Mangrove swamp remain one of the most uncharted and illusive areas in the world.
Totch: A Life in the Everglades by Loren G. “Totch” Brown
Totch is a delightful autobiographical account of a man that grew up in the Everglades. Written by a natural storyteller, it follows his life and the history of the area as it transforms from an uncommercialized wilderness to the Tamiami Trail lined, sugar cane farmed, Seminole evacuated national park that it is today. The reader gains insight about the wildlife and how natives dealt with unexpected encounters with territorial predators. The struggles of growing up and survival in this mysterious land are also highlighted.
In a technology laden world, it may be hard to imagine the possibility of living without electricity, indoor plumbing, or commercialism. Reading of Totch’s movement through the Ten Thousand Islands, to Everglades City and back to Chokoloskee with a small outboard motor and a few home-made skiffs may seem like an ancient idea. Totch tries hunting and fishing, dodging the laws protecting alligator hunting and smuggling marijuana to survive.
The stories he recounts about alligator encounters and mosquito swarms are both entertaining and give some insight on visiting the Everglades. Currently, most tourists would not likely attempt to clean out a cove of all alligators, but the knowledge of past personal experiences of a man who grew up and learned to understand the native creatures may prove to be helpful.
This is an entertaining and informative account of one man’s life in what Peter Mathiessen calls “the last real frontier”. Seeing the landmarks of Totch’s life rouses a curiosity to see them in person. It is an excellent book to read if destined for the wilds of south Florida.
Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen
Peter Matthiessen compiled the stories of those who lived in the Everglades in the early part of the twentieth century and formed a potential scenario of the death of Mister Watson. This is the story of a congenial man who appears to be an outlaw and responsible for the deaths in multiple states. Excerpts from interviews and newspapers featured in the novel add validity to the different stories. The combination of fact with legend, plus a bit of fiction, creates an entertaining and intriguing story.
Each chapter is told by a different character. Hearing the story of Mister Watson from multiple points of view is a good way to see him from many different angles. It allows the reader to notice exaggeration, bias, and misinterpretation. Also, it lends itself to showing the way of life in the Ten Thousand Islands a hundred years ago. The characters are interesting, although their voices seem to fade into one another at times.
The novel gives the reader a feel for pioneer glades life. It exposes hardships with weather, animals, Native Americans, racism, making a living, putting food on the table, and raising a family. Living in an area notorious for housing fugitives must have been interesting.
Matthiessen creates a captivating tale of rumor versus fact. The characters are lively and the setting is fascinating. The blending of true events with fiction sets a story up against a living background. This is an excellent novel for any Everglades traveler, or anyone else who enjoys a good piece of literature.
A Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park by Johnny Malloy
This is a good book to look over before heading out on a paddling trip in Everglades National Park. It gives insight into the different campsites, how far away they are from each other, some useful information about how to deal with different animals you may encounter, the climate, and more. A good reference book.
The Following Book Reviews are Courtesy of Jono Miller, New College of Florida
The Everglades.
Carr, Archie. 1973. Time-Life Books, 184 pps.
A bit dated, but the writing of one of Florida's most perceptive
naturalists ecologists shines through. Features the photo-illustrated format
that Time-Life is famous for.
Everglades: the Ecosystem and its Restoration.
Davis. Stephen M. and John Ogden, Eds. 1994 St. Lucie Press.
Ecosystems of Florida.
Myers, Ronald L. and John J. Ewel. 1990 U. of Central Florida Press, Orlando, 765 pps.
If you are at all interested in the natural landscape of Florida,
you ought to breakdown and simply by this book now. Tells the story in a
direct understandable way with all the citations you could want.
The Trees of South Florida, Volume I.
Craighead, Frank C. Sr. 1971 University of Miami Press, 212 pps.
Curiously enough this volume by one of Florida's great field
naturalists doesn't really seem to be about trees-- its subtitle " The
Natural Environments and Their Succession" comes much closer. Great on plant
communities and the effects of hurricanes such as Donna (1960).
Voice of a River.
Douglas, Marjory Stoneman. 1987. Pineapple Press, Englewood, 268 pps.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas' 1947 classic River of Grass almost
eclipsed the more remarkable story-- her own. Born in 1890, she did not
become an environmentalist for 78 years, yet for the last quarter century
she has been arguably the most effective and powerful of Florida's
environmental matriarchs. No life is more closely linked to this ecosystem.
This is her autobiography.
Beyond the Fourth Generation.
Johnson, Lamar. 1974. University Presses of Florida Gainesville, 230 pps.
Lamar Johnson first started working in the Everglades in 1921, when
the system was still in good condition. He was involved, as an engineer,
with virtually all efforts to drain and manage the system from then until
1970. Although defensive about his role, Johnson provides insight from the
inside.
Fire in South Florida Ecosystems.
Wade, Dale, John Ewel, and Ronald Hofstetter. 1980 USDA Forest Service General Technical Report SE-17, Asheville, NC , 125 pps.
Most treatments of South Florida Ecology focus on hydrology-- here's
the rest of the story: fire.
Across the Everglades.
Willoughby, Hugh L. 1898. Florida Classic Library Edition, Port Salerno, Fl. 1992. 192 pps, with pictures.
Anyone canoeing in the Everglades will be empathetically fascinated
with this century old account of a Rhode Islanders canoe trip across the
Everglades in a craft he designed and had build to his specifications.
Willoughby is remarkably sympathetic to the plight of the Seminoles.
Trees of the Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys
Stevenson, George B. Banyan Books
More of a glorified leaflet than a book, this slim (32 page) volume
features simple black and white line drawings and brief descriptions of the
native trees and larger shrubs. Easy to use, easy to pack. A classic. Was
about $2.50
A Guide to Everglades National Park and the Nearby Florida Keys
A Golden Guide, Zim Herbert S. Golden Press 80pps.
Smaller than a cheap paperback, this old (1960) paperback may be out
of print. Simple color illustrations of wildlife and plants with brief
descriptions. Looks great for a 12 year old, but on further examination
really does seem to cover the bases. It is, for instance, better for
wildlife identification than the Everglades Wildguide described below.
Everglades Wildguide
George, Jean Craighead National Park Service 105 pps.
Not really a field guide, this is more a general introduction to the
area by a great natural history writer. Greatest strength is its community
approach to understanding the Everglades. Features glossary, tree and
wildlife checklists. Illustrations are evocative but not what is expected
for wildlife ID work. Anomalous emphasis on orchids. Good, brief
bibliography.
