A Land Remembered provides an incredible Florida story, and I quickly read the more than 400 pages in the book. The book follows three generations of the MacIvey family as they grow from subsistence living to wealthy, influential landowners. The story begins before the American Civil War when Florida is mostly swampland and prairie. The Feds teach the fictional Tobias McIvey to herd cattle during the war, and he then uses his skills to travel across the state as the first settlers of Florida did. He and his family learn to cope with alligators, bears, wild hogs, and other wildlife. Additionally, the Florida weather, marked by extreme heat, a summer rainy season, and horrific hurricanes, provides severe challenges for Tobias, his wife Emma, and their son Zech.
Early in this historical novel, Tobias meets Kevin Tiger, a Seminole. Unlike other white men, Tobias was quick to offer the Seminole shelter, and his kindness led to a lifetime friendship that continued with his son Zech and grandson Sol. Throughout the story, Tobias and his family continue to appreciate valuable lessons from their Seminole friends. For example, the Seminoles provide dogs and horses, which make their travel more manageable. They also offer intangible advice about medicine and edible plants. Most importantly, the older MacIveys learn how to live in concert with the land instead of destroying it as other Florida settlers were known to do. Throughout the book, when faced with the selfishness and greed of other Florida developers, Smith brings his characters back to recognizing the Seminole precepts of respect for the land to thrive and survive.
Tobias also invites an escaped slave, Skillit, to travel with the family and provide much-needed labor. Through his characters, Smith conveys a beautiful message about the ability of people from many backgrounds to live in harmony and respect each person’s humanity. Tobias always insists on paying his workers and recognizing that he needs assistance to survive in the Florida landscape. Tobias’s son, Zech, eventually takes over the family business and continues acquiring cattle, land, and wealth. This author beautifully develops the characters of Zech and his wife, Glenda. The reader learns how they manage despite cattle rustlers, bushwhackers, and tycoons. This book’s literary value is enhanced by including Zech’s inner conflicts, which depict his humanity and difficult life choices. I was particularly struck by the ruminations about how animals share resources and humans fight over them. There is a statement about how even the hated wolf kills only for food.
Only with Sol MacIvey, the third generation to manage the business, some deception enters into business practices. Smith does a great job of showing how more recent Florida settlers have had less reverence for the land and its original design. The changes play out in the family relations with the Seminoles and practices, such as fencing animals and attempting to exercise more control over nature. This book is an engaging story depicting Florida and its people from 1863 to 1968. I highly recommend it.
