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Treasure of Matecumbe
It is 1869, and a fourteen-year-old orphaned boy named David Burnie, usually called Davey, lives on Grassy Plantation near Hanksville, KY, with his Aunts Effie and Lou and Uncle Jim, who had been in the Mexican War and then a captain in the Civil War. Uncle Jim joined the Ku Klux Klan when it was supposed to be just a “social club,” but after the members begin assaulting Negroes, he turns against it. He and Davey stop a K.K.K. raid on a neighbor, killing a couple of Klansmen, so they have to flee. Jim has a map showing the location of a treasure on Matecumbe in the Florida Keys that he obtained during the Mexican War, and along with their former slave Zeb, the two head down the Mississippi River towards Florida.
Followed by a couple of Klan members, Jim and Davey pick up a medicine show “doctor,” Ewing T. Snodgrass, and his daughter Millicent (Millie). Next, they visit Belle Mead, the Mississippi plantation of Jim’s Civil War buddy Paxton Farrow, only to find out that it is being run by his twin brother Rex Farrow who is impersonating Paxton and is a Klan sympathizer. When they leave, they are joined by Lauriette Paxton who wants to escape her brother’s iron rule. Then they must face hostile Seminoles in the Everglades. Do they ever make it to Matecumbe? Will they find the treasure? And what happens when they are caught in a hurricane?
Followed by a couple of Klan members, Jim and Davey pick up a medicine show “doctor,” Ewing T. Snodgrass, and his daughter Millicent (Millie). Next, they visit Belle Mead, the Mississippi plantation of Jim’s Civil War buddy Paxton Farrow, only to find out that it is being run by his twin brother Rex Farrow who is impersonating Paxton and is a Klan sympathizer. When they leave, they are joined by Lauriette Paxton who wants to escape her brother’s iron rule. Then they must face hostile Seminoles in the Everglades. Do they ever make it to Matecumbe? Will they find the treasure? And what happens when they are caught in a hurricane?
399 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
1 person is currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lewis Taylor
27 books19 followersPulitzer Prize for Fiction (1959) for The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 4, 2013
Journey to Matecumbe (1961)
This is a historical adventure novel by Robert Lewis Taylor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for The Travels of Jamie McPheeters (1958). I would have catalogued that one as a western as its about western pioneers. This takes place in the South after the Civil War, and I thought about grouping it that way, but the journey the characters embark on takes them east to Florida. Apparently, historical accuracy is a big deal for writers of the genre, or it was for this guy. (The best western writers, such as Elmer Kelton, also hold this standard.) This is a first person narrative by a young boy named Davey Burnie, and it has clearly been influenced by Huckleberry Finn. The humor and contempt for civilization is there and there’s a journey on the Mississippi and across the south. Davey and his roguish Uncle Jim have killed a couple Klansmen while protecting a black man. They are pursued across the south. Along the way they join forces with a Medicine/Con Man named Dr. Ewing T. Snodgrass, his trombone playing daughter named Millie, and encounter a host of colorful and often unpleasant characters. The book has an enormous bibliography and I feel like I learned a lot about the ant-bellum south, the Seminoles, the ship wreck salvage business, sponge harvesting, and life on the 1870’s Florida coast. This is a lot of fun to read and gracefully balances humor and tragedy.
This is a historical adventure novel by Robert Lewis Taylor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for The Travels of Jamie McPheeters (1958). I would have catalogued that one as a western as its about western pioneers. This takes place in the South after the Civil War, and I thought about grouping it that way, but the journey the characters embark on takes them east to Florida. Apparently, historical accuracy is a big deal for writers of the genre, or it was for this guy. (The best western writers, such as Elmer Kelton, also hold this standard.) This is a first person narrative by a young boy named Davey Burnie, and it has clearly been influenced by Huckleberry Finn. The humor and contempt for civilization is there and there’s a journey on the Mississippi and across the south. Davey and his roguish Uncle Jim have killed a couple Klansmen while protecting a black man. They are pursued across the south. Along the way they join forces with a Medicine/Con Man named Dr. Ewing T. Snodgrass, his trombone playing daughter named Millie, and encounter a host of colorful and often unpleasant characters. The book has an enormous bibliography and I feel like I learned a lot about the ant-bellum south, the Seminoles, the ship wreck salvage business, sponge harvesting, and life on the 1870’s Florida coast. This is a lot of fun to read and gracefully balances humor and tragedy.
January 30, 2021
Enjoyed the book, but it had some long boring sections. It would have been better to me if it didn't have as much of those, but they contained good history that the author researched very well. Some of it was intriguing because it had interesting historical insights that you don't usually find in history books.
September 25, 2012
Interesting in a geographical sense but story line is a bit slow for my tastes.
October 3, 2022
Not quite on a par with Travels of Jamie McPheeters. Both are similar in that they are narrated by a pre-pubescent boy with a Huck Finn vibe. I suspect Taylor was a student of Mark Twain, but I’m afraid he’ll never be considered a literary peer.
As with McPheeters, Taylor apparently strives for historical accuracy, with emphasis on the Seminoles, Everglades, and Florida Keys. One character is a purveyor of quack medicine and other remedies. I assume it’s an accurate portrayal. It’s at least consistent with the stereotype encountered in movies and other works of literature. It’s also another parallel with Huck Finn (the Duke and the Dauphin).
As with McPheeters, Taylor apparently strives for historical accuracy, with emphasis on the Seminoles, Everglades, and Florida Keys. One character is a purveyor of quack medicine and other remedies. I assume it’s an accurate portrayal. It’s at least consistent with the stereotype encountered in movies and other works of literature. It’s also another parallel with Huck Finn (the Duke and the Dauphin).
October 26, 2025
I read this for the first time more than 40 years ago as a kid and really enjoyed it. I decided to read it again now as an adult to see if I still liked it. I'm pleasantly surprised to find that I liked it at least as much and probably more than I did as a kid. Thoroughly enjoyable read in my opinion.
July 27, 2021
An enjoyable adventure, but does get too didactic at times.
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March 28, 2024Read this one a long time ago. A fictional adventure of a young boy and his older brother, fleeing the KKK in the post civil war South and winding up in the Caribbean.
July 25, 2025
Zaskakująco dobrze napisana książka bez żadnych banalnych czy ckliwych rozwiązań fabularnych
November 6, 2020
I picked this up, knowing it was the basis for a film, and hoping it was something special - and it definitely was. "Treasure of Matecumbe" was one of the most exciting adventure stories I've ever read, and one of the most historically accurate.
From the beginning, when young Davey - who ostensibly writes most of the book - and his Uncle Jim must go on the run from KKK members with a personal vendetta, to their serendipitous meeting with a snake oil salesman, to their move to the Florida Keys to try their hand at local industries, the excitement continues with hardly a stop. The adventures are wide-ranging: shoot outs, treasure maps, smugglers, wrecking, sneaking through the Everglades with Seminole assistance, even a hurricane, to name just a few.
Author Taylor meticulously researched his subject matter and included a bibliography in his fictional story to prove it. The book is peppered with detailed information about the Florida Keys, the Seminoles, shipwrecks, and more. He writes with the realism that brought his "Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" such note, while keeping focus on the story and on historical accuracy; nonetheless, the background never overwhelms the story.
I can see why Disney decided to make a movie (which I've never seen) in 1976 - perhaps either off the mark or at the wrong time, since their effort failed to make a profit. With Robert Foxworth as Uncle Jim, Peter Ustinov as the salesman, and Johnny Doran as Davey, it is considered worth a watch and I'll be keeping my eye out for it. But I know for sure that the book is indeed a treasure. (394 pages, pocket books)
From the beginning, when young Davey - who ostensibly writes most of the book - and his Uncle Jim must go on the run from KKK members with a personal vendetta, to their serendipitous meeting with a snake oil salesman, to their move to the Florida Keys to try their hand at local industries, the excitement continues with hardly a stop. The adventures are wide-ranging: shoot outs, treasure maps, smugglers, wrecking, sneaking through the Everglades with Seminole assistance, even a hurricane, to name just a few.
Author Taylor meticulously researched his subject matter and included a bibliography in his fictional story to prove it. The book is peppered with detailed information about the Florida Keys, the Seminoles, shipwrecks, and more. He writes with the realism that brought his "Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" such note, while keeping focus on the story and on historical accuracy; nonetheless, the background never overwhelms the story.
I can see why Disney decided to make a movie (which I've never seen) in 1976 - perhaps either off the mark or at the wrong time, since their effort failed to make a profit. With Robert Foxworth as Uncle Jim, Peter Ustinov as the salesman, and Johnny Doran as Davey, it is considered worth a watch and I'll be keeping my eye out for it. But I know for sure that the book is indeed a treasure. (394 pages, pocket books)
March 8, 2011
This is one of the most amazing books I've ever read. Taylor is a master at building characters. He's also one of the few genuinely funny American writers. Not all of his books are humorous, of course, but Matecumbe certainly takes that laurel.
The book is essentially an account of a young boy, Davey, and his Uncle Jim traveling down to the Florida Keys. It's much more complicated than that, involving the KKK, pirate treasure, a quack doctor and his lovely daughter, a runaway heiress, but the trip is the main nut in the plot.
I've met few people who have actually read Taylor, which puzzles me a bit. I think the answer might partially be in the fact that Taylor is not politically correct at all. He is blunt in his observations, even though he draws his characters with a delicate hand.
Taylor reminds me of a more complex version of Richard Powell, another humorous American writer. However, Taylor's wit is a great deal more dry, though they can both be equally over the top.
I will sometimes read books several times if they are excellent. This one is more than excellent.
By the way, Disney attempted a neutered version of this book as a film. I'd advise you to avoid it and, instead, read the book.
The book is essentially an account of a young boy, Davey, and his Uncle Jim traveling down to the Florida Keys. It's much more complicated than that, involving the KKK, pirate treasure, a quack doctor and his lovely daughter, a runaway heiress, but the trip is the main nut in the plot.
I've met few people who have actually read Taylor, which puzzles me a bit. I think the answer might partially be in the fact that Taylor is not politically correct at all. He is blunt in his observations, even though he draws his characters with a delicate hand.
Taylor reminds me of a more complex version of Richard Powell, another humorous American writer. However, Taylor's wit is a great deal more dry, though they can both be equally over the top.
I will sometimes read books several times if they are excellent. This one is more than excellent.
By the way, Disney attempted a neutered version of this book as a film. I'd advise you to avoid it and, instead, read the book.
December 28, 2012
Another winner by Robert Lewis Taylor! He packs so much into his stories. Each paragraph needs to be read and savored, not skimmed, or you might miss something of importance or interest. Bring me more!
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March 12, 2024Read this years ago. Reminded me a little bit of Huckleberry Finn. Action ends up in Florida Keys.
April 11, 2017
While I didn't admire this book as much as Taylor's The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, it was nonetheless an enjoyable read. The author's dialogue is charming and humorous and the characters well-drawn. I agree with another reviewer that there is much similarity here to Twain and Huckleberry Finn.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews