tory" of Florida. No other book so fully or accurately captures the highs and lows, the grandeur and the craziness, the horrors and the glories of the past 500 years in the Land of Sunshine. Twenty-three leading historians, assembled by renowned scholar Michael Gannon, offer a wealth of perspectives and expertise to create a comprehensive, balanced view of Florida's sweeping story. The chapters cover such diverse topics as the maritime heritage of Florida, the exploits of the state's first developers, the astounding population boom of the twentieth century, and the environmental changes that threaten the future of Florida's beautiful wetlands. Celebrating Florida's role at the center of important historical movements, from the earliest colonial interactions in North America to the nation's social and political climate today, The History of Florida is an invaluable resource on the complex past of this dynamic state. Michael Gannon (1927-20017) was a renowned scholar and writer known as the "dean of Florida historians." A versatile intellectual and a towering figure in his long career at the University of Florida, he authored and edited numerous acclaimed histories. In 2010 he was honored as the winner of the inaugural Florida Lifetime Literary Achievement Award. Contributors: Charles W. Arnade Canter Brown Jr. Amy Turner Bushnell David R. Colburn William S. Coker Amy Mitchell-Cook Jack E. Davis Robin F. A. Fabel Michael Gannon Thomas Graham John H. Hann Dr Della Scott-Ireton Maxine D. Jones Jane Landers Eugene Lyon John K. Mahon Jerald T. Milanich Raymond A. Mohl Gary R. Mormino Susan Richbourg Parker George E. Pozzetta Samuel Proctor William W. Rogers Daniel L. Schafer Jerrell H. Shofner Dr. Robert A. Taylor Brent R. Weisman