The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise

The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise
By Michael Grunwald
Published by Simon & Schuster, 2006
ISBN 0743251059, 9780743251051
450 pages

A social, political and natural history of the Everglades that includes: its geologic formation; the Calusa culture; the Spanish exploration; the Seminole Wars; efforts at drainage and reclamation; the related development of South Florida; and efforts of protection and restoration.

Part 1 - The Natural Everglades Pre-History to 1880
Timeline
1513 Juan Ponce de Leon visits Charlotte Harbor; battles Calusa
1521 Ponce returns to Charlotte Harbor; wounded in battle with Calusa, dies later in Cuba
1564 Menedez de Aviles defeats French in St. Augustine; confronts Calusa chief Carlos at Mound Key

Part 2 - Draining the Everglades 1880 - 1967
Part 3 - Restoring the Everglades 1967 - 2005


















Read a review by Gordon E. Harvey The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise.