This was a really enjoyable read! What could have been a dull history of the rise of Palm Beach turned out to be romp through the foibles of those who made Palm Beach one of the “high” society centers of America.

Going through some of the stories of the residents read like a tabloid. Exciting lives, multiple marriages, sexual shenanigans and monetary manipulation. Oh such fun!

This book is especially well-researched and the true stories of the denizens of Palm Beach and the histories of the great mansions made me want to pay a visit very soon.

Best of all, details of the financial chicanery of Donald Trump. Lawsuits, illegal mortgages, cheating contractors and LIES,LIES LIES about everything connected to his ownership of Mar-a-Lago.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this unique book!

Probably like many, I was attracted to read about Mar-A-Lago because of the Trump association. Actually, at some point he said something like "Now it really has become the southern White House" and that piqued my interest. The Trump part here is three decades of history that feels tacked on and rushed. There are interesting anecdotes and legal cases that suggest the man is small-minded, vindictive, and inconsiderate. Interestingly, Melania comes across as having control over him.

The title really fits the book and what it is about, from railroad tycoon Henry Flagler arriving in April 1893 and leaving behind what was to become the legendary Breakers. Also important in the evolution of this enclave of the elite is sewing machine heir Paris Singer and architect Addison Mizner who created the "Mediterranean look" of Palm Beach. Then comes the building of interesting and the pet project of Marjorie Merriweather Post who so desperately hoped it would live on under the care and attention of the federal government.

This has been one of my favorite non fiction reads. The background on how Florida came to be and the effect that Flagler had on forming this area makes this an exotic read. The author does a really nice job of putting you in that time period and giving you facts that are interesting, but not boring. With all the focus on Mar-a-Lago now I can imagine that this book won't be a success.

As a Florida transplant this was a treasure trove of information about the history of my area. The history of the residence and PB was fascinating . Great read

This was a fascinating look into early Palm Beach. We love visiting Miami and this makes me want to extend our range and make a visit to Palm Beach. I enjoy glimpses into the past and how the entire community was formed. Such a different era.

Les Standford's history of Palm Beach can be appreciated on many levels---as a vibrant history of the development of South Florida, as a fascinating peek at the gilded existence of a few visionary individuals, or as an inside look at the rise of "resort living." I loved every minute of this book.

Despite the fact that I grew up in South Florida (Coral Gables) , I was not aware of the colorful stories about the development of St. Augustine, Palm Beach and Miami. Standford's book is eminently readable and the inside look at the lives of the "grand dames" who ruled society in Palm Beach is a perfect tonic for a summer day. The book is both fun and informative and provides lots of "bon mots' and historical tidbits that any reader will relish.

I have been bubbling over and entertaining my friends and family with scenes and stories from this wonderful fairytale history of Palm Beach. That’s all I’ve been talking about- so let me share my findings with you, my reading friends. The title of this book spotlights the places in Florida we’ll be learning about in author Les Standiford’s engaging non-fiction history. But in truth, this is a character driven book not a dry book about buildings and cities, and will we meet some characters!

When we think of Mar-a-Lago, we think of…Marjorie Merriweather Post. She built this iconic entertainment palace, but she wasn’t the first wealthy person to be beguiled by Palm Beach as we learn when Author Standiford takes us back to the beginning of what would become Palm Beach. Surprising to me, it hasn’t been that long ago since the playground of Palm Beach emerged from the Palmetto brush and mango trees. It was April of 1893 when Henry Flagler first came to the area. He was an energetic tycoon- he had partnered with John D. Rockefeller and made his fortune with Standard Oil. By 1895, Flagler had built the Royal Poinciana Hotel, and the famous Breakers hotel and with that, Palm Beach became a destination. He also built a railroad line, which before too long went to Biscayne Bay and Key West.

So who came on the railroad? Everyone on the Who’s Who list, every winter for “the season”. We are treated to many entertaining stories of the parties and society events, the food, clothes, entertainment and also the scandals on the beautiful island by the Atlantic Ocean. The book features stories of the rich and famous, but we also get to know entrepreneurs and architects, and even the workers who all helped bring the place to life.

While there are many fascinating people in the book, including Paris Singer the 23rd child of Isaac “sewing machine” Singer, no one can really top Marjorie Merriweather Post and her new husband E.F.Hutton (“when E.F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens.”). She was the heiress to the Post Company fortune, and to her credit, she was active in the company. For example, she pushed the purchase of Clarence Birdseye’s freezing company. MMP and E.F. built and furnished Mar-a-lago at a fantastic level. Again, to her credit in my mind, she believed money was to be used to benefit everyone, and building her enormous property during the Depression helped many workers, as did her years of charity benefits and the pleasure she gave to her family and friends at her welcoming estate. (Henry Flagler, the father of Palm Beach and Miami also was guided to develop the east coast of Florida from a desire to share a world he loved with many others.)

Time and tides always keeps rolling, and as MMP neared the end of her days she tried to find a way to keep Mar-a-lago going. Eventually the place was saved by Donald Trump in 1985. Of course he is now the President, and he gets very fair treatment in the book.

Beautiful Palm Beach lives on and I hope I have convinced you to read this riveting book about the people who created this lovely place. As you plan your next trip in Florida, think about Henry Flagler and what he created! His enormous Palm Beach home Whitehall is now a museum. I can’t wait to visit it and I am also eager to discuss this book with you. Do you have some Palm Beach memories?

Les Standiford is a well-known best-selling author. Like me, you may also have enjoyed his book and also movie, “The Man Who In ended Christmas”.

Thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Atlantic Monthly Press for an advanced digital review copy. This is my honest review.

Of course almost everyone is aware of Mar A Lago’s current incarnation as a “Southern Whitehouse” and some will remember it’s previous status as a residence of the late society grand dame Marjorie Merriweather Post but the book starts with the fascinating story of Palm Beach before the construction of all the grand homes and social cachet. That story begins with the vision of robber baron Henry Flagler and actually put me somewhat in mind of the vision in the mind of gangster Bugsy Siegel for the building of a desert oasis that would become Las Vegas. Both places at the time would seem to be an improbable dream but, with ingenuity, they did happen and this book is a very interesting account of that corner of the country.

A book that introduces us to the history of Palm Beach the people who form its history the fabulous wealth Mar-a -largo the behind the scenes of this extraordinary playground for the rich and famous torn from today’s headlines where Trump owns& visits,A delicious juicy read,#netgalley #groveatlantic

This is a fascinating history of the origins of Palm Beach and, in particular, Mar Lago. Full of diverting anecdotes and social history, this is an easy read and of interest to anyone interested in the history of wealth and leisure in the US

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

I'd seen this reviewed in the Sunday Times Culture magazine and was thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy

Well researched and written, this is engrossing and educational. I found the background info on Palm Beach fascinating and, obviously, with the current and recent connotations with the present POTUS adds another layer for me

A great read

Immensely educational, entertaining and detailed story of the making of Palm Beach and it's sensational mansions.. The characters are as colorful as the scenery. I cannot imagine how people came and looked at what essentially was considered a wasteland and yet had the vision to create an undeniably grand piece of paradise. Of course, they had the money too. Good read.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher through netgalley for my honest opinion.
Thanks netgalley

A wonderful background into the roots of the history of a part of Florida that is so important to today's politics. You get a good sense of the personalities that built the community.