Gripping stories during the Age of Sail from the time of Spanish navigators of the 16th century to the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842. Many died in shipwrecks and attacks by natives and pirates as they attempted to navigate the 110-mile sea passage between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean south of the Florida Keys and the Florida Reef. It has been called one of the most dangerous passages in the world. There are accounts of castaway mariners, native divers, privateersmen, pirates, and smugglers.

Simonton, Duval, Eaton, Whitehead, Southard, Truman—if you discover how these Key West streets, and all the others, came by their names, you will know much of the history of this little island at the nethermost end of the continental United States. You will learn of the rise and fall and rise again of the fortunes of this island town, which has played such a rich role in the history of the country as a whole. The author starts each section with an engaging history of the person for whom the street is named. Then he takes us along the street, pointing out the buildings and sites of historic interest along the way. This method builds and reinforces our grasp of Key West's history as the island is crisscrossed with sites that evoke nearly every aspect of its past. What emerges is a unique and quirky history of Key West, as well as a fascinating guide to wandering its streets, boulevards, alleys, and lanes.

Today, on the Keys between Key West and the mainland, some forty thousand residents and thousands of visitors fish, swim, sail and dive int he crystal clear waters off a tropical reef; relax in the sun adn cooling trade wind breezes; and sleep in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes and hotel rooms. On these same islands, as short a time as eighty years ago, fewer than three hundred inhabitants tried to eke out a living without benefit of electricity, running water, radios, or telephones. The stories of these hard pioneers and their predecessors, as far back as the Native Americans who lived on the Keys at least one thousand years ago, are told, many for the first time, in this book.

"In 1943 Ernest Hemingway, living in Cuba with his third wife and eleven cats, wrote to his first wife: One cat just leads to another ... The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you see them all moving like a mass migration at feeding time ... He always too great pleasure in writing to his family about his cats and how they were getting along. Family and pets played an important role in Hemingway's life, revealing a softer side to his character than is usually portrayed by the macho image of the hunter and fisherman. His pets were mostly cats--the number at Finca Vigia, his Cuban home, at one time swelling to fifty-seven. He called the cats "purr factories" and "love sponges" who soaked up love in return for comfort and companionship"--Dust jacket cover.

Florida has long been a mecca for those looking for a change of scenery, pace, or fortune. One way or another, all who enter Florida are "Touched by the Sun." Its powerful rays leave them with a sense of well-being, better health, or maybe just a sunburn. Come meet some of the glorious sun-drenched characters. In this third volume of the Florida Chronicles, a continuing series on the states history, author Stuart B. McIver tells his tales of Florida through the often tangled lives of people who could never be brushed aside as ordinary. These players in that great theatrical production called Florida include presidents, cowboys, gangsters, baseball players, writers, politicians, captains of industry, inventors, movie stars, and even a fire chief. See all of the books in this series

This novel is based on the life of pirate John Gow who features as Captain Cleveland. The setting is the southern tip of the main island of Shetland (which Scott visited in 1814), around 1700. The arrival of the shipwrecked captain, Cleveland, spoils young Mordaunt's relationship with the Troil girls, and soon a bitter rivalry grows between the two men. Minna falls in love with Cleveland, not knowing his true profession. Brenda, however, is in love with Mordaunt. The pirates capture the Troils, but after an encounter with the frigate HMS Halcyon, they are freed… Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet. He was the first modern English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia, and North America. His novels and poetry are still read, and many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.

Key West is a tropical island at the end of the Florida Keys. Quiet, quaint and completely bizarre. The authors of True Secrets of Key West Revealed! went to great lengths to research the hidden truths about this island paradise. In a lively question and answer format you will learn what restaurant has a graveyard in it, what has protected Key West from hurricanes since 1918 and about the crazy count who lived and slept with his dead "wife's" body...for seven years! Indexed for easy reference. You won't find a funnier or more accurate place for information about the odder side of Key West.