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"A Land Remembered" ... Florida's Early History... Or... Where the name "Cracker" originates

By
Real Estate Agent with Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch!

A Land RememberedFlorida today is populated by people from all over the United States and in fact, the world.  My husband who is a Florida native often gets surprised looks when he reveals that he was born right here in Hernando County, Florida.  His parents, however, just as many others came from another state over 70 years ago looking for a better life and experienced Florida in ways that will never return.

"A Land Remembered" is a novel by Patrick D. Smith and telling about just that, early settlers coming to Florida, working the land, getting into cattle driving and ranching, encounters with Seminole Indians, natural disasters, the rise of the citrus growing industry, the development of the land.

I got lost in this book, I got lost in times that are long gone.  Although the characters are fictional, the author skillfully incorporated actual occurrences into the novel, describing hardships endured by the early people occupying this State, following a family clan through three generations spanning 100 years, telling us about their daily struggles to survive, but also sharing their joys that came from successes and close family life.

Descriptive, entertaining, thought-provoking, passionate.... if you like to learn more about "old Florida" but not read a history book, you will enjoy this book too!

"Cracker" --- a name derived from "cracking" whips to round up cattle.

A Land Remembered"A Land Remembered" by Patrick D. Smith, Pineapple Press.

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 For more information about Hernando County Homes and Land for sale including Spring Hill, Brooksville, Weeki Wachee, and the communities of Timber Pines, Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club, Silverthorn, and Hernando Beach , please call or visit my website!

Let me help you find Your Place in the Sun!

 

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate

Tropic Shores Realty, 3441 Deltona Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34606

Phone: 352-584-7441    Email: SilviaDFL@yahoo.com   Website:  www.SilviaDukes.com

 

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Comments(11)

Bethany Little
Whitworth Builders Realty, Inc. - Navarre, FL

Thanks for clearing up origins of "cracker".  I'm from Alabama and I don't think I've been called that because of the cattle I'm whipping.  I think people think it's another term for redneck.

Looks like a fascinating book, thank you for recommending it.  I'm going to look for it. 

Nov 19, 2008 02:14 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Silvia,  Thanks for posting about this book.  I have roots going back to Florida. My ggggrandfather was a Justice of the Peace and tax collector for Jefferson County.  In 1838 he and other family members were killed in a raid on their home by 2 white men and a group of Seminole indians who took everything of value and then burned the house.  Thankfully, some family members escaped. 

Nov 19, 2008 02:15 AM
Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Silvia, I use to think the samething about Myrtle Beach, SC that no one was ever from there.  Although I was there briefly in 1985 and my son was born there.  So that shattered that myth.

Nov 19, 2008 02:18 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Bethany:  Seems the term "cracker" deserves a lot more respect!

Shirley:  Sure was a wild time and these things are also addressed in the book.

Larry:  Agree, and as more younger families have their children, "new" natives are born!

 

 

Nov 19, 2008 05:31 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I'm glad someone beside me got lost in that book. I actually find that I often get lost in historical books because I want to go look up the places, and some of them just aren't anymore.

Nov 19, 2008 10:18 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Jim, what I actually meant was that I got totally immersed in the story, characters, and time.  Yes, some of the places I wasn't quite sure about but most of them I knew where they were and they are still there today!

Nov 19, 2008 01:20 PM
Lynn Krogseng
Keller Williams Premier Partners - Vancouver, WA

This sounds like my kind of book. Your obvious enjoyment sure helps.  I read a book that might be interesting for you - "Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn" by Gary Pomerantz. It's about Atlanta and 3 generations of influential families there. Maybe it's more interesting if you've lived in Atlanta, which I did when I read it.

Dec 15, 2008 02:42 PM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Hi Lynn, thanks for the book tip, I will take a look at it.  I agree that stories that remind you of familiar places give the reading experience an added dimension.  I personally read pretty much everthing!

Dec 15, 2008 11:09 PM
Carol Clay
Looking Glass Realty - Brevard, NC
Broker/REALTOR, Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist

I read that years ago when I lived in Florida and loved it. I always enjoy books that entertain and educate...all at the same time.

Dec 27, 2008 12:53 AM
Anonymous
Sylvia Guarino

My husband and I read this book a few years ago and liked it so much we keep a copy in each of our vacation rental properties on Sanibel Island, Florida.

The supply has to be replenished from time to time as readers/renters do become so engrossed in the story that they take the book home,  there not being sufficient time to read the whole book on vacation.

While current writers like Randy White tell an engaging series of tales using Sanibel and Captiva as backdrops to his "Doc Ford" novels, A LAND REMEMBERED provides a deeper, broader perspective on Florida's "roots".

If anyone has any further suggestions on great Florida-based reads, I would love to hear of them.

Meanwhile, I am soon going to add a post to my own blog on Sanibel Island referring to A LAND REMEMBERED.

http://sanibel-rentals.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apr 09, 2009 03:11 AM
#10
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Thank you Sylvia for your comment.  What a wonderful idea to put it into the vacation rentals for people to enjoy! 

Apr 10, 2009 07:32 AM