Theodore Pratt (1901-1969) was the author of fifteen books that depict the Sunshine State, earning him the informal title of "Literary Laureate of Florida" in the mid-twentieth century. He portrayed the culture of south Florida, especially in his "Florida Trilogy"-which includes his most famous book, The Barefoot Mailman (1943), and continues with The Flame Tree (1948) and The Big Bubble (1949). He also wrote vividly about the Florida Keys in Mercy Island (1941), the Everglades in Escape to Eden (1953), and Chief Osceola in a novel and a play both called Seminole (1953/1954). Pratt did research for his books that created an archive that is valuable for researchers today and a collection of stories and essays, Florida Roundabout (1959),that offers a deep insight into the lives of poor whites in the state.This biography tells the story of Pratt's life and work to Florida fans, teachers, young writers, and literary scholars who are interested in southern literature, Florida literature, and mid-century American film and literature.

Taylor Hagood is Professor of American Literature at Florida Atlantic University whose books include Faulkner, Writer of Disability (winner of the C. Hugh Holman Award for Best Book in Southern Studies) and Stringbean: The Life and Murder of a Country Music Legend.