Introduction

This book is not about the Island of Saint Florian. While it may appear to be, it is not. It is also not a book about the people living on the Island of Saint Florian. Their appearances in this book are both central and remarkable, but they are, on the last page, just characters. This book is not about them.

This book or, rather, this collection of short to medium stories with intermittent observant interruptions was written by Ezra Caudill. This book is not about him. Ezra Caudill was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1899, the last year of the 19th century. Tradition reckons that this was the second to last year of the century, but tradition also binds us to tacking socks to our banisters on December 25th in the hopes that a very old, quite hefty, but surprisingly agile saint will slide down our chimneys and bring us presents based upon our inherent goodness. This book is not about very old saints.

Ezra Caudill enjoyed a very peaceful life in Cincinnati, Ohio until his 18th year of life when he joined the American forces in their pledge to defend Britain, France, and any other countries tied to them in the spider web of alliances that was World War I. This book is not about WWI. Ezra anticipated a highly active role in the fighting, but, due to his less than average size and stature, he was ultimately tasked to be a lawn mower for British officers living in Wimbledon. It was during this time that he was introduced to British officer Peter Moore, whose lawn Ezra was ordered to mow one to two times a week or as needed. This book is not about Peter Moore.

Peter Moore came from a long line of Moores, all of whom had gone into the business of travel guide journalism under the banner of Karl Baedeker, the founding father of travel guide literature for the world. While their initial introduction was less than stupendous, over time Ezra Caudill and Peter Moore became close friends and at the close of the war Moore offered Caudill a position in the Baedeker Company as a travel guide journalist. This book is not about the Baedeker Company.

Ezra Caudill took the offer and in 1918 was sent to the island of Saint Florian for his first travel journalism assignment. While there Ezra Caudill compiled an extensive amount of information on the island for future travelers to the area. The description of the island in the 16th edition of the travel guide had been very brief, consisting only of the population at the time, twenty-three, and a one-line observation, ‘Don’t get stuck’. In the forthcoming 17th edition Ezra resolved to widen the description of what he saw to be an understudied and underappreciated part of the country. This book is not about resolutions, but that is a much closer assessment.

While writing his official description for the Island of Saint Florian Ezra Caudill also took to writing short to medium stories about the residents he encountered there. This book is not about short to medium stories. At the completion of his observation Ezra Caudill submitted his report with his collection of completed stories to the Baedeker Publishing House for review. He also included his resignation. This book is not about resignations.

The letter went as follows:

Dear Sirs,

I have completed my report and have come to one stunning and urgent conclusion. I must discontinue my work as a travel journalist immediately. While I appreciate your kindness in hiring me, even with my incredible lack of credentials, I must embark upon a different venture entirely. My reasons for leaving are multi-faceted, but can be readily discerned from every word in the report accompanying this letter. I wish you well in your future endeavors and encourage you to visit the island of St. Florian, if only for the sunshine. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,






Ezra Caudill

This book is not about credentials. Or reports. It is about sunshine.