Pulitzer Prize History Winner

The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea

by Jack E. Davis

Summary

Jack E. Davis writes a sweeping environmental history of the Gulf of Mexico, from its ancient origins to the era of oil rigs and coastal sprawl. He weaves together the fish, birds, marshes, and people who shaped and exploited the region across centuries. The book matters because it treats a body of water as a central character in American life and warns about the cost of treating nature as an endless resource.

Historical Context & Significance

Davis, a professor at the University of Florida, won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2018.