Hermes Mallea — a partner in the M (Group), an influential New York design firm — has filled the book with archival photographs of beautiful getaways and spots s such as Palm Beach, Bermuda and Nassau, as well as their beautiful, glamorous inhabitants. Keenly interested in historical preservation and elements of design, he describes the emphasis on fantasy that endures in resort style and serves as a visual cue for more relaxed behavior than would be typical at home. The social history is no less interesting, including the influence of Prohibition, politics and land speculation on the rise and fall of various tropical paradises.