Ride South Until the Sawgrass

by James Chapin

From the moment Nat Quinto and his wife Lucy set foot in the Florida Territory, they can't seem to steer clear of Jake Primrose, a rancher whose schemes to increase his already plentiful wealth ensnare everyone around him. Between Primrose's greed and the brutal conflicts brewing in the Territory surrounding them, will the Quinto family be able to stay true to themselves?

In four tales, the paths of the Primrose and Quinto families cross, separate, and inevitably intertwine in this virtuosic debut set during the tumultuous years of the Florida Territory's Second Seminole War and early statehood.

Genres: Historical Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

James Chapin’s writing has appeared in Slate, Catapult, the Los Angeles Review of Books’ Marginalia channel, and the Tampa Bay Times. He is from north Florida, where he lived while writing this novel. He currently lives in Georgia with his wife and their animals.

Reviews

[Jennifer Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully and frankly written, this novel covers a community in a little examined time and place in America history.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written fictional account of old Florida in the 1840s with compelling characters that surface all that is right and wrong with America. Invokes the great Peter Matthiessen's 'Shadow Country' in its cinematic sweep.

Then as now, Florida draws the dreamers and losers and those who prey on them. Resonates with those who know and love Florida for her subtle beauty and diversity and despite her flaws.

[Trev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! The themes and ideas explored throughout this multigenerational story were expressed in a way that felt honest and meaningful. By the end of the novel I felt a real connection with the characters and setting and had grown a greater understanding of the history of the Florida Territory and the lifestyle of those who inhabited it.

[Krishna Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully unique book that hooks you from the start. It feels like a daydream put to paper in the best of ways. Recommended to those who want to check out a new author that is genuinely worth the time!

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun multigenerational Florida Cracker western…showing the changing history of the sunshine state…

Ride South Until the Sawgrass by James Chapin is a western epic across four parts…linking three nearby families and their evolving story…

The book is broken up into four separate narratives, but there are connecting characters and plots…across the three families: the Quintos, the Tercers, and the Primroses…

The first part is set during the early days of the Florida Territory…with new arrivals to the state.

Flash forward to 1835, we see a young man’s eye view of the second Seminole war…

Next in 1844, a different young man just wants to fulfill a murdered slave’s dying wish…and maybe find some form of justice…

Moving forward again for the forth part, the second generation of Florida frontiersmen must grapple with the ongoing changes and their impact on his family…

I rather enjoyed it even if some of the plot threads meandered a little and the passage of time felt rushed or little explained.

Still…it was a fun portrayal of early 19th century Florida history and how there’s pushback to the “civilizing” of the state…

It’s not Cormac McCarthy level of storytelling if you want a deep thinking mans western, but i still recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual book, and I rated highly partly because of the unique story, but also because the writing is lovely. It's descriptive without being overly so, and the characters are drawn in such a way that the reader can identify with them and understand what motivates them.
The story takes place during the Seminole Wars in Florida, when whites were driving Seminole Indians off their reservation at Lake Okeechobee and attempting to drive them west of the Mississippi. Whites were also intent on recapturing runaway slaves that were living among the Seminole. Many Seminoles were hiding out in the Everglades, putting up a vigorous defense of their land under Chief Osceola.
This book is written in four parts, telling the stories of the two families living in the area, one family intent in expanding their wealth (at the expense of ANYONE, white or otherwise), and the other family interested only in cultivating the land and raising their children.

[Al B.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan of 'A Land Remembered' will love this book. I picked up a signed copy when the author, James Chapin, presented at the Matheson Museum in Gainesville, Florida, where he wrote the novel. This book is by no means dry... it is an engaging, researched, character-driven series of stories set in Civil War era North/Central Florida. We've not only got cowboys and indians (depicted honestly and respectfully), but troubadours and troublemakers.

This is certainly a novel worth adding to your collection.

[JP McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars if I could. Set in the 1800s pre-statehood in the Florida territory, the book follows two families: the Quintos and the Primroses. Their struggles and triumphs (respectively) during and after the second Seminole War are documented through four episodes. The composition of the four shorter stories are seemingly unrelated until the end. Not the easiest read- a bit slow at times, but the ending ties all the paths together and earned an extra star and a half.

[Marg · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book - more like a group of 4 loosely related novellas. I found I wanted more of the story at the end of each section- although you do get a wee bit of resolution from the next section. At least you know the characters survived. My favourite was the last story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I pick up historical fiction, it's almost always WWII fiction, so when I saw frontier Florida, I thought this would be interesting. It absolutely delivers with a well researched, interesting read. Honestly, I've never read anything quite like this (in a great way).

[Caden Lodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up by accident. Glad I did. A well done story that is written in a way that holds your attention.

[Kirstie Pillow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. The characters are well-drawn and the writing is so beautiful. Florida during the 19th century was a wild outpost with many conflicting influences shaping its development…Chapin captures the volatility of that time with a keen eye. I’m so impressed by both the narrative and the research that went into this book.