Book excerpt: St. Barthelemy, affectionately known as "St. Barth" or "St. Barts," is a small island in the French West Indies. It occupies only 8.3 square miles and is distinctly different from most of the Caribbean islands. St. Barth's interesting history of first Spanish then Swedish then French sovereignty has given St. Barth a unique, now predominantly French, culture. St. Barth's natural beauty and absence of high-rises, casinos, or crowded beaches make it a haven for vacationers and a popular destination of the rich and famous (David Letterman, Mikhail Barishnikov, Martha Stewart, among others, frequent or have houses there). This beautiful book depicts in photographs and words the heart and soul of the island.