A Land Remembered: Tobias in Perspective

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith, is a classic book that accurately portrays Florida's history through the eyes of one family over 3 generations. The constant relationship of man vs nature is the obvious them of the book, covering pre-civil war era with Tobias to mid 1900s with Solomon MacIvey as a wealthy business tycoon. Tobias and his son Zech learned to live off and respect the land while Solomon abused it, but soon realized his mistake.

The character that fascinated me the most was Tobias MacIvey, the one who started it all. Old history of Americas growth and maturing as a nation has always been an interest of mine. Reading about the way Tobias survived and made it through tough times to feed his family really puts a lot of things in my life into perspective. I respect that Tobias lived life as a decent man by vowing to preserve the land and look past diversity in the friends he makes, even though at that point in history, adversity was all too common. It almost makes me jealous I don't possess his same attributes of an outdoors man and philanthropist. He's comparable to Grizzly Adams or (my favorite all time TV character) Ron Swanson.

Tobias would be someone that'd I'd look up to growing up. He's someone I aspire to be. Not necessarily to live and dirt and eat squirrels, but to have the same perseverance through difficult chapters in life and to hold the same love for any fellow man and every bit of nature. Tobias befriends a Seminole Indian by the name of Kieth Tiger who teaches him how to properly herd and beef up cattle. After that point I believe Tobias established his sense of place not only outdoors herding and selling cattle, but also with his family and his son Zech who he influences to carry on the tradition of preservation of the land.

I may not relate to Tobias in the sense that I know how to be a survivalist, but I hold the same beliefs and respect for nature. Not to mention, family always comes first. A land Remembered was a good read and put a new perspective into being a Florida native and how significantly we're losing our connection to the environment.