Gladesmen
Gladesmen
Gator Hunters, Moonshiners, and Skiffers
“An homage to the rugged ‘swamp rats’ who were largely overlooked or scorned by the region’s historians, naturalists, and adventurers.”—Miami Herald
“Documents an aspect of Florida history and culture of which far too little has been written. . . . [Gladesmen] is alive with South Florida history and spiced with Simmons’ understated humor and world view.”—Folk Winds
“Contains interesting tales of outlaws, moonshiners and other characters—some who lived on the edge of right and wrong—and roamed the inhospitable backcountry prairies of soft muck and massive mosquitoes.”—South Dade News Leader
“We Floridians sometimes . . . long for the simple life of pioneers and wonder how we would manage ‘living off the land.’ This book serves as a slap in the face of such fantasy.”—St. Petersburg Times
“Simmons tells us that he is no hero, but he is the stuff of Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett, Jim Bridger, and Alfred Wallace.”—Florida Frontier Gazette
“Simmons is Florida’s answer to Huckleberry Finn.”—Georgia Historical Quarterly
Glen Simmons (1916–2009) lived in south Florida his entire life, spending much of it in the Everglades. In 1995 he was awarded a State of Florida Heritage Award for his unique contribution to Florida’s history and folk culture. Laura Ogden, a lifelong friend of Simmons, is an anthropologist and professor at Florida International University.
