The Florida Keys: A History & Guide, Joy Williams’s Classic Companion

For more than thirty years, travelers heading down the Overseas Highway have packed one beloved book for the ride. The Florida Keys: A History and Guide by acclaimed author Joy Williams is the definitive companion to this string of islands, equal parts travelogue, history, and love letter.

Williams, a celebrated novelist who knew the Keys intimately, guides readers island by island from Key Largo all the way to Key West. Along the way she weaves in the colorful history, the natural wonders, and the eccentric characters that make the Keys unlike anywhere else, all in prose that is witty, opinionated, and a pleasure to read.

More than a list of attractions, the book captures the soul of the Keys, from the coral reefs and mangroves to the fishing camps, old cemeteries, and roadside oddities. Updated over many editions, it remains a trusted favorite for first-time visitors and longtime lovers of the islands alike.

Insightful, funny, and full of heart, it is the perfect book to read before or during a Keys getaway. Look for The Florida Keys: A History and Guide by Joy Williams and start planning your trip.