A Rogue's Paradise

Denham's study constitutes a fascinating and revealing portrait of lawbreaking and law enforcement on the Florida frontier. The pervasive influence of the frontier is fundamental to an understanding of antebellum Florida. James M. Denham traces the growth and social development of this sparsely settled region through its experience with crime and punishment. He examines such issues as Florida's criminal code, its judicial and law enforcement officers, the accommodation of criminals in jails and courts, outlaw gangs, patterns of punishment, and the attitude of the public toward lawbreakers. Using court records, government documents, newspapers, and personal papers, Denham explores how crime affected ordinary Floridians -- whites and blacks, perpetrators, victims, and enforcers. He contends that although the frontier determined the enforcement and administration of the law, the ethic of honor dominated human relationships. In this exciting and invaluable study, James M. Denham, using appropriate but neglected sources, carefully describes and analyzes violence, crime, and punishment in antebellum Florida . -- Grady McWhiney Anyone who finds state studies too narrow an approach will have to reconsider their reservations in light of this thorough, analytical, and lively study of Florida's system of criminal justice. Culling the Florida courthouse records, James Denham offers rich examples to illustrate how lawlessness flourished both inside and outside the astonishingly homicidal household. His perceptions shed light on habits of justice and mayhem along a Southern frontier that stretched beyond Florida's border to Galveston Bay. In sophisticated fashion, Denham has reaffirmed justhow violent was the Cavalier South . -- Bertram Wyatt-Brown University of Florida A fine book. The research is exhaustive, Denham's reasoning is thoughtful and instructive, and his style is lively and informative. This is a solid addition to the social history of antebellum Florida and a must read for scholars and buffs alike . -- Arch Fredric Blakey University of Florida