Palms, Priests, and Pirates

In Palms, Priests, and Pirates: The Epic History of Amelia Island, Florida, Stephen Doster offers the first comprehensive examination of the rich and captivating history of this unique barrier island off the northeast coast of Florida. Drawing on extensive research and a deep personal connection to the region, Doster has chronicled Amelia Island’s remarkable story—from its initial Native American settlement, through the Spanish colonial era and the founding of Fernandina, to the island’s tumultuous periods of pirate raids, American “patriot” invasions, Civil War upheaval, and devastating yellow fever outbreaks.

By weaving together these diverse threads of Amelia Island’s past, with spectacular images by acclaimed photographer Benjamin Galland, Doster aims to offer readers an unparalleled understanding of the island’s pivotal role in the broader history of Florida and the early formation of the United States. From the cultural clashes between Indigenous populations and European colonizers to the strategic military significance of this Atlantic coastal outpost, Doster’s book provides a fresh and illuminating perspective on an often-overlooked corner of American history. Ultimately, Palms, Priests, and Pirates celebrates the remarkable resilience and enduring spirit of Amelia Island, a place whose dramatic saga from its earliest occupation to the present has remained largely untold—until now.

Stephen Doster (Author)
STEPHEN DOSTER was born in Kingston, England, and raised on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He is an award-winning author and editor of several books, most of which focus on Georgia and the Georgia coast, including Lord Baltimore and Voices from St. Simons: Personal Narratives of an Island’s Past. He also produced Saint Simons 360, a historical video. Doster was named a 2021 Georgia Author of the Year by the Georgia Writers Association for his book Cumberland Island: Footsteps in Time (Georgia). He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Benjamin Galland (Photographer)
BENJAMIN GALLAND, born and raised on St. Simons Island, grew up exploring and photographing the pristine and unparalleled beauty of the southeastern coast. Aside from his artistic photography, he owns Volo Project and offers commercial marketing photography specializing in lifestyle, tourism, hospitality, food, and conservation. With a passion for storytelling, the outdoors, and conservation, Galland uses his camera to portray the things that matter most to him. He has five books published with the University of Georgia Press: Island Time: An Illustrated History of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Island Passages: An Illustrated History of Jekyll Island, Georgia; Sapelo: People and Place on a Georgia Sea Island; Cumberland Island: Footsteps in Time; and Following the Tabby Trail: Where Coastal History Is Captured in Unique Oyster-Shell Structures. Galland is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys kayaking, fly-fishing, camping, and exploring.