Key West on the Edge

“Key West is an island steeped in lore, from Hemingway to Fantasy Fest, but behind the façade of Margaritaville lie buried tensions and conflicts in need of examination. Kerstein provides a much-needed dose of reality in the form of a masterfully researched study of the island’s tourism industry, from the shadowy power brokers who pull the strings to the underpaid workers who serve the drinks. From seedy bars to trendy discos, Kerstein has managed to capture the improbable mixture of this strange island, while offering a cautionary tale of tourism run amok.”—Lee Irby, author of 7,000 Clams

“An exemplary study and a cautionary tale that should be read by everyone interested in the suicidal course of a society driven by an irrational and self-destructive compulsion to erase differences in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.”—Brewster Chamberlin, author of Mario Sanchez: Once upon a Life

“Skillfully weaves economic, social and cultural accounts that are both informing and fascinating. [Kerstein’s] fresh historical perspective reads like fiction, featuring a lively cast of characters in a vivid setting full of surprises.”—Tampa Bay Magazine

“A real-deal history about fast change in a strange place.”—Daytona Beach News-Journal

“[Kerstein] begins with the earliest visitors, tuberculosis patients in the 1830s, and takes the reader through the impacts of the railroad and the Overseas Highway, as well as cycles of real estate boom and bust.”—Tampa Bay Times

“A holistic history of tourism in one of the Sunshine State’s most recognizable cities. . . . Clarifies misconceptions and dispels myths while making a welcome addition to Florida historical literature.”—Journal of Southern History

“Kerstein does a commendable job conveying the tension inherent in Key West’s long history with commercial tourism.”—Southern Historian

“A richly detailed local story.”—Florida Historical Quarterly