The Florida Life of Thomas Edison (Hardcover)

~ Ms. Michele Wehrwein Albion (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is both a portrait of Thomas Edison and a record of the vast changes to the region of Fort Myers, Fla., as it grew from a remote and unspoiled wilderness into a popular modern resort area with the attendant problems of overdevelopment and environmental damage. When Edison decided in 1885 to build a winter retreat and laboratory in Fort Myers, the region was regarded as a frontier outpost. The local paper proudly announced Edison's decision, and the town enjoyed an economic boom as construction progressed on the inventor's compound. Edison's new second wife, young Ohio-born Mina Miller, arrived in Fort Myers in 1886 and initially found the lack of running water and abundance of bugs miserable. But she grew to love the place and became a strong advocate for both the people and the environment. Albion, former curator of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, writes with an eye for extraordinary as well as ordinary details, from the difficult task of lighting Fort Myers in the late 1880s to family expeditions up the Caloosahatchee River and into the Everglades. B&w illus., maps. (Oct. 5)
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Review

"Finally, a smart but highly readable account of one of Florida's most famous snowbird couples! Mina and Thomas Edison were rock stars in sleepy Fort Myers, and Albion does a great job re-creating their lives that were lived beneath the banyan trees. Both entertaining and educational." - Ad Hudler, author of All This Belongs to Me and Southern Living. "Fills a significant gap in the inventor's career by using local sources as well as the extensive collection of the Edison Papers to tell the story of his work, recreation, and influence in the city where he built his winter home." - Paul Israel, author of Edison: A Life of Invention "Albion paints a highly personal portrait of daily activities in the Edison home, including tarpon fishing, Model T expeditions into the Everglades, research with tropical plants, and a visit by the President of the United States." - Tomas Graham, author of Flagler's St. Augustine Hotels"

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Florida; 1st edition (September 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813032598
• ISBN-13: 978-0813032597
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,636 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Albion's Eye for Detail, October 2, 2008

By	S.L. Williams (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

From Publishers Weekly:

The Florida Life of Thomas Edison
Michele Wehrwein Albion. Univ. Press of Florida,
$34.95 (264p) ISBN 978-0-8130-32559-7

This is both a portrait of Thomas Edison and a record of the vast changes to the region of Fort Myers, Fla., as it grew from a remote and unspoiled wilderness into a popular modern resort area with the attendant problems of overdevelopment and environmental damage. When Edison decided in 1885 to build a winter retreat and laboratory in Fort Myers, the region
was regarded as a "frontier outpost." The local paper proudly announced Edison's decision, and the town enjoyed an economic boom as construction progressed on the inventor's compound. Edison's new second wife, young Ohio-born Mina Miller,arrived in Fort Myers in 1886 and initially
found the lack of running water and abundance of bugs "miserable." But she
grew to love the place and became a strong advocate for both the people and the environment. Albion, former curator of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates,writes with an eye for extraordinary as well as ordinary details, from the difficult task of lighting Fort Myers in the late 1880s to family expeditions up the Caloosahatchee River and into the Everglades.