![\"\"](\"http:\/\/raymondvicvickers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/home-amazon-book-paradise3.jpg\" "\\"home-amazon-book-paradise3\\"")
<\/a>Panic in Paradise is a comprehensive study of bank failures during the Florida land boom of the mid-1920s, during the years preceding the stock market crash of 1929. Florida and Georgia experienced a banking panic in 1926 when, in a ten-day period in July, after uncontrollable depositor runs, 117 banks closed in the two states. Uninsured depositors lost millions, and several suicides followed the financial havoc. This volume makes use of banking records that were legally sealed for almost 70 years and provides a shocking story of professional corruption and conspiracy.<\/p>\n“An extraordinary and unusual book that makes an important contribution to our understanding of banking history and the general economic history of the 1920s. The banking collapse in the Southeast is virtually unknown, even to specialists in banking and financial history. No one who is interested in the banking history of the United States will want to miss this book.” “An exhaustively researched pioneering study; brilliant investigative reporting.” “Vickers is a social reformer of the first order, an anachronism, a man of reason in an age of insanity.” Panic in Paradise, Panic in Paradise, 0817307230, 0-8173-0723-0, 978-0-8173-0723-3, 9780817307233, , , Panic in Paradise, 081735414X, 0-8173-5414-X, 978-0-8173-5414-5, 9780817354145,<\/p>\n Hardcover & Paperback at Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n “Excellent and detailed. . . . Reads almost like a fiction thriller.” “This dramatic and pioneering book . . . makes important contributions to Florida and American history [and] it is a well-written, compelling account that is given added veracity [because] Vickers forced reinterpretation of Florida\u2019s bank secrecy law. His book should find a place on the shelves of all Floridians interested in the colorful history of their state.” This book is a story of mismanagement, fraud, government corruption, and cover-up in the banks of Florida and Georgia from 1926 to 1929. Vickers tells a classic tale of evil bankers deliberately channeling depositors\u2019 funds into their own development projects while bribing government officials to help hide their crimes. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the author\u2019s own role in \u2018putting the criminal away.\u2019 An attorney, economic historian, and past assistant comptroller of the state of Florida, Vickers had to use all of his skills. . . . In addition to the usual problems, . . . the author faced the state controller\u2019s opinion that the release of the records \u2018was a crime.\u2019 Vickers\u2019 legal efforts and skillful use of publicity caused the reversal of that decision.” \u2014American Historical Review<\/strong><\/p>\n The Business Library Review, An International Journal<\/em>, (Feb., 1996), pp. 7-11 The American Historical Review<\/em>, Vol. 101, No. 2. (Apr., 1996), pp. 585-586 The Journal of Economic History<\/em>, Vol. 55, No.2. (Jun., 1995), pp. 444-445 Choice, Current Reviews of Academic Books, Vol. 32, No. 5 (Jan., 1995), p. 840 The Tallahassee Democrat, (1996) The Florida Times-Union, (Nov. 6, 1994) Secret bank records shine light on 1920s boom and bust<\/em><\/a> History lessons<\/em><\/a> Banking’s veil of secrecy<\/em><\/a> Veil of secrecy (original printed article)<\/em><\/a> Q&A: Raymond Vickers on bank-examination reports<\/em><\/a> Crusading historian Vickers is still battling his detractors<\/em><\/a> Historians fight it out on the battleground of ideas<\/em><\/a> Causes of the bust<\/em><\/a>
\n— Eugene N. White, Rutgers University<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n— Jack Blicksilver, Georgia State University<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n–Professor David O. Whitten, Auburn University<\/strong><\/p>\nMore Reviews:<\/h2>\n
\n\u2014Tampa Tribune<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2014Tallahassee Democrat<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by David O. Whitten, Auburn University<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by Lynne Pierson Doti, Chapman University<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by David C. Wheelock, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by S. L. Engerman, University of Rochester<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by Dr. William Warren Rogers<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Reviewed by Simon Barker-Benfield<\/a><\/p>\nArticles about Vic Vickers’ Publications<\/h2>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, January 27, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 2, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 3, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 3, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 3, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 10, 2008<\/p>\n
\nBy Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 10, 2008<\/p>\n
\nSarasota Herald Tribune, January 27, 2008<\/p>\n