The Flame Tree: Florida in the Fabulous Days of the Royal Poinciana Hotel by Theodore Pratt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a tale more interesting in the story of developer Henry Flagler and his Royal Poinciana, than of the two main characters. The story is simple with lush details of early Palm Beach County, Florida.

Pratt continues laying our Florida history and Palm beach County with this story of a couple from Ohio who finds themselves trying to live life as one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world, the Royal Poinciana hotel, comes about. The story of the relationship and all of the troubles with it are a bit bland. Most interesting is the female’s obsession with the hotel. The obsession paves the way for Pratt to fully describe the hotel and it’s workings.

An oddity is other construction Flagler does in the area as the story takes place, like the Palm Inn and his home, Whitehall. Not a mention in the book. I guess it helped Pratt’s focus.

The characters are pretty standard for a story like this. Mostly well written, with simpler sketches of everybody else – Unless it involves the hotel.

I’d suggest the book for those interested in planning or the history of Palm Beach County. All others will find a weak story draped with way too much about everything else.

Bottom line: I recommend it with conditions above. 5 out of ten points.

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