A Land Remembered
Patrick Smith’s beloved masterpiece is coming to television. Before the series arrives, experience the story the way it was meant to be told — page by page, word by word.
$22.95 (Hardbound) – 
$16.95 (Softbound) –
You can also read A Land Remembered on Kindle and NOOK. Get the audio version on Audible on Amazon.
About the Book
A Land Remembered opens in 1858 when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness with his wife Emma, their infant son, and little else — a sack of corn, a cast-iron pot, two axes, and a dream. What follows is the sweeping story of three generations of a Florida Cracker family, from the untamed frontier to the gleaming towers of modern Miami.
It is a story of survival, love, loss, and the land itself — a Florida that can only be remembered now.
Here’s how it begins:
Tobias MacIvey was thirty years old and had been in the Florida scrub for five years. He had come south out of Georgia in 1858. In his horse-drawn wagon there was a sack of corn and a sack of sweet potatoes, a few packets of seeds, a shotgun and a few shells, a frying pan, several pewter dishes, forks, and a cast-iron pot…
What Readers Say
“Our copy has been read so many times the pages are falling out.” — Bill Elliott, Haines City, FL
“I have laughed and cried. It is probably one of the best books I have read in years.” — Mona Jackson, Lakeland, FL
“I kept trying to follow their exploits on Google Maps. This book will be on my mind forever.” — Mike, 70-year Florida resident
“I spent more time reflecting than reading. A timeless treasure and not a one-time read.” — Lori Ford, Native Floridian
“As I was reading the final paragraphs of the first chapter, my mother had another heart attack and died. It was almost as if she was waiting for me to get there — and by reading that first chapter, it was okay for her to pass on.” — Jill McGahey, Tuminello, FL
The TV Series Is Happening
After forty years, A Land Remembered is coming to television. Filming is underway in Florida right now. This is the story a generation of Floridians grew up with — and a whole new audience is about to discover it.
Read the book before the series arrives. You’ll be glad you did.
A Land Remembered is one of the best books i have ever read and i didn’t know that Florida was wild back then. it also was a fantastic story.
The book was great, I mean ………………………………………………..
I’m glad you enjoyed it and shared this.
Rick
Hello, is there any chance that i find this book in french ?
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been translated into French to my knowledge.
It was great.
I am glad you enjoyed it!
would you please send me the link so I can watch Patrick Smith recall his youthful trip around Florida back in the 30’s when it was still pristine and unspoiled. I loved his book, one of my alltime favorites.
Here you go – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxspMIvggjE
please send the link to enable me to watch the video of Patrick Smith narrating his trip around Florida when he was a youngster. It was delightful to see Florida when it was unspoiled and pristine.
I loved his book, and have read it several times. I live in Rockledge FL and he lived on Merritt Island.
I wish I could have met him in person. thank you
Hi Chris,
I emailed you the link to that page. For anyone else, you can sign up to view it at http://alandremembered.com/sense_of_place/
Would like to know your thoughts after you watch it.
Rick (Patrick, Jr.)
I just finished reading “A Land Remembered” after it was recommended to me by Dr. Bill Broussard and his wife, Margaret, at the Allen Broussard Forever Florida Conservancy. This is an outstanding work of historical fiction, and those who have not yet discovered it have a treasure awaiting them! I think it would make an excellent motion picture or series, and that a lot of it could be filmed at Forever Florida.
Thank you for your consideration of my remarks.
Wm. S. Warden
William, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on A Land Remembered. Many people have agreed with you about A Land Remembered being made into a movie and I am sure it will happen one day. Forever Florida is one of the gems of Florida.
Rick
Thank you for a terrific presentation tonight in New Smyrna Beach. We enjoyed it very much.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was a great crowd and a beautiful venue. Rick
This book is so much interesting and I really loved the journey of Tobias in particular, thanks for sharing
I was born and raised in Fort Myers. I know Punta Rassa very well. Shoot, I know Florida very well. This book brought on emotions and connections of my love for Florida. I just want to say “thank you.”
I finally read this book at 37 years old. I’m a 5th generation Floridian with my family coming from the Cocoa area. I am very proud of my heritage and this book reassured me of that. Thank you
I’m so glad you discovered and enjoyed the book.
I’ve read the book several times and I used it in my classroom as a class read with all the teacher material. I think I did it 3 yrs in a row. Anyway, I live on a well field in Florida and I take people riding back there all the time and then I talk about A Land Remembered. Many of my friends read it but many have tried to find it for their kindle. Will their ever be a kindle version?
Hi Jill,
What a great thing you’re doing, showing people around old Florida.
The book IS on Kindle, however since the switch to a new publisher, they have the wrong cover showing up when you search for it. Here is the direct link. https://amzn.to/2HbUibL The cover says it’s a student guide but it is actually the book.
Thanks for letting me know. I will bug them again to correct this.
Rick
I am coordinator for two small libraries in gulf County – the florida panhandle. Please contact me about a speaking tour engagement – we have a generous friends organization and a dedicated following for our programming about Florida’s natural and cultural history.
Mimi Minnick
Hi Mimi,
I sent you an email regarding your request. Please let me know if you didn’t receive it. We do have some dates available when we’ll be in the Panhandle in March.
Rick
My all time favorite book!
Terri,
I’m glad you enjoy it so much. Rick
How can I sign up for the talk on February 14 on Anna Maria Island?
Hi MaryBeth,
The best thing to do is to give them a call at (941)778-0492. It is a luncheon and that will be $20.
Rick
Loved this book! It could have been a replay of my grandfathers life except for the acquiring wealth part. He told us stories that were so similar. I grew up in the Ft. Myers area….when it was a small town. A great story!!!
I realized that I got behind in replying to my comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the book and thanks for sharing. Rick
I’m a new settler to Florida and this book was recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed it; couldn’t put it down! Although it’s fiction, I kept trying to follow their exploits on Google Maps. Do you have a map that would show approximate locations of these events and homesteads? Thank you.
Hi Eric,
If you get a copy of the physical book, there is a map in the front that shows their journeys through Florida. If you go to click on the homepage at https://alandremembered.com/, you’ll see a copy of that edition.
Rick
What a wonderful story. I normally read three or more novels a week. I spent 5 days with this book and towards the end, I spent more time reflecting, instead of reading. I’ve spent most of my 70 years here in Florida and was just mesmerized by the content. I would have loved to have met Mr. Smith. This book will be on my mind forever. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing that. I’m happy that you enjoyed the novel so much.
I cannot wait to dig into this book with my students! I purchased the curriculum as well, I am wondering about the song “Forever Florida” is this somewhere I could hear it so I could teach the class the song?
Tiffany, I know your students will love it. As to the song, I am not aware of a song named Forever Florida. That was the name of a nature wildlife company that was inspired by my father’s book, Forever Island. There is a song I used to play during my shows called Florida Home. It is by a band called Patchwork and is available on their album on Amazon through this link https://amzn.to/3y7f3gn. Could that be the song to which you’re referring?
Rick
For many years I taught A LAND REMEMBERED in my eighth grade classroom. The pond apple forest was my favorite scene. Now I am seeing more about the pond apple forest online. I just purchased the graphic novel version, so I hope more Florida students will choose to read this essential history of Florida.
Any background on the Timicuan in the swamp saying “you must go around” interests me.
Thank you so much for sharing that.
~Rick
I’d like to see this book made into a movie or short series. I may be able to help get it done.
I’m happy to say that it is under option right now for a film. I appreciate your offer to help. Keep your fingers crossed.
I agree. A Land Remembered affected me in the way I see Florida. It would make a powerful movie. I’m a local producer. Maybe we can talk. kori@seanicproductions.com
Rick,
I’ve been promoting Patrick’s books for years, especially A Land Remembered, since I interviewed him for my AgNet radio network after he spoke to FL Cattlemens Assoc the year he published it.
I also promote his video A Sense of Place, but I’m told it’s hard for people to find the video on the A Land Remembered website.
Rick, we’ve met a few times, my divorce derailed me right in midst of my promotions of your Dad’s book and video as I had met some CA movie people right before my life took a bad turn, and I lost touch of the effort.
Please reply and let me know how to promote the video…and if/when you get time to chat and catch up, plz call my mobile at 352-727-8371.
Hope to hear from you sometime.
Gary Cooper, Founder
AgNet Media
RETIRED
i hate this book
jk i love this book one of my favorte
this book is so bad my let fav
This is the best Book . I have purchased any copies used , and given to friends to read and to pass on for all to enjoy!!
Rick,
Do you still do speaking engagements?
I live in Vero Beach and am very interested in learning more about Florida history.
Rick,
Will you be appearing in Florida anytime soon? Can you share your speaking schedule?.
I live in Indian River County and would love to meet with you.
Rick
I would like to prepare an event in Venice Fl because our city will be 100 years old.
Could you come give a conference for us abou Old Florida? Please let me know how to contact you.
My sister, Jennifer and I are so excited to know that there is a film in the process of being produced of the story of Land Remembered…. Thank you, thank you without end!
Joni
So glad to hear that. We were able to go to the shoot and it’s looking awesome!