South Carolina Books

Don Millus knows how to catch fish. But more importantly, at least for the reader, he knows how to catch your interest. His sunny style cuts though the fog that, many times, seems to hover over the usual run of fishing yarns, some plagued with too much technical detail, some with self-serving bravado and bravura, others simply cut and dried. You'll enjoy, as I did, the "take" this college professor-outdoorsman manages always to find, his perennial optimism, and the mysterious way he transports the reader to his "backyard"--a coast, physical and metaphysical, that is always fair and seasonable, even on the coldest winter night.

Thorough and thoughtful, Galen Reuther has accomplished that which I have always wanted to do. Flat Rock is rich in history and she has succeeded in presenting the subject with depth and sensitivity. I spent many happy weeks and months in that area just a few miles south of hometown Hendersonville and recognized most of the "summer cottages" of its first and present owners. Thank you Galen Reuther for a marvelous work worthy of your prolific genius. Phillip Elliott

In Fly-Fishing The South Atlantic Coast, seasoned angler Jimmy Jacobs shows the reader where to find game fish from North Carolina's Outer Banks down to through the Florida Keys. With an introductory chapter surveying the species of fish commonly sought during each season along the southeast Atlantic coastline, Jacobs provides advice on gear selection and saltwater flies, how to fish the different types of inshore waters from ocean inlets to tidal creeks to oystershell bars. Fly-Fishing The South Atlantic Coast also provides the aspiring fly-fisherman with information on weight records, regulations, and angling calendars for each state. With its detailed maps of each area to make trip planning easy, anyone considering a fishing trip anywhere along the southeast Atlantic coastline should begin with a careful reading of Jimmy Jacobs' Fly-Fishing The South Atlantic Coast!

I recently went to both Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. I found the guide very useful with lots of valuable information to offer.

I really loved reading Stringer-Robinson's book on Folly Beach. Having attended school in Charleston, I had been to Folly Beach numerous times with friends to enjoy the laid-back beach and people. Not knowing much more about Folly than its being a good place to get a tan with friends, I learned tons of interesting facts and stories about it's rich past, including some shady characters such as pirates... Very cute and informative work!

Barbara Weinstein's study of the Sao Paulo, Brazil working class covers much more than labor relations in that city. As US and European social scientists and labor historians seek to broaden their understanding of labor/management relations in other parts of the world, they will find this an invaluable source. Extremely well-documented, with evidence from oral histories, interviews, newspapers, government documents and secondary sources, Weinstein tells the story of a ruling elite that tried to tame its workers in novel ways. In everything from cooking classes for women to soccer and volleyball games for male and female workers, the Sao Paulo manufacturers tried to lure their workers away from the anarchist meeting hall, or even the local bar, and into increasing productivity (and profits) for the company. They succeeded in some ways, but mainly failed. Sao Paulo's workers are some of the most militant in the world today. This is a fascinating story that should be! told in every labor, urban or social history class.

College-level collections strong in foreign affairs history must have Foreign Affairs and the Constitution in the Age of Fighting Sail: it brings to life events of 1793 and the first test of President George Washington's efforts to establish a foreign policy and to enforce the Constitution's separation of powers statute. It outlines the underlying politics of a confrontation in which the French revolutionary republic sought to obtain support from the U.S. in its war with great Britain, forcing the founding fathers to test the Constitution's separation of powers sections. Understanding their dilemma is key to understanding an important piece of the Constitution - and is key to any college-level collection strong in American political history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

In the 40 years that have elapsed since General Douglas MacArthur's last campaigns in the Pacific during World War II, his victories have come to be viewed as quick, smooth and simple operations against an improverished foe. However, hindsight has obscured the tenacity of the Japanese and the immense difficulties MacArthur encountered in the Southwest Pacific. Not all his victories were quick and easy. In three major campaigns: Buna in December 1942, Biak in June 1944 and Manilla in 1945, MacArthur was forced to call in a fireman to rally American troops and to salvage desperate tactical situations. MacArthur always used the same field commander to handle his most diffcult missions - Lieutenant General Robert Lawrence Eichelberger. - from book's back cover

Unique tales of the Old North State; not the same ones as every other NC story books

There really need to be more books like this one. Instead of focusing on one of the major leaders of the Revolution and early days of the republic such as Washington, Adams, Jefferson or Madison, this work focuses on a remarkable family that played a very important part in the revolution and the early days of the republic, the Pickneys.

The Pickneys were part of the merchant/planter/lawyer class that was important in South Carolina and in particular Charleston. The wealth of the family came from that particular mix of enterprises. As one of the most prominent families in South Carolina they were of course related to the other important families in Charleston such as the Middletons, the Draytons, and the Rutledges.

The main figures of the family during the period of 1760-1820 are Charles Pickney III, Thomas Pickney, and Charles Cotsworth Pickney. While Williams is good in terms of explaining how these remarkable individuals are related, there is unfortunately no family tree in the book and in order to keep everyone straight I had to make my own. This really is the one failing of the book.

Charles Cotesworth and Thomas Pickney were officers in the continental army during the American Revolution and as such later became important members of the Federalist Party. Charles was the head of the party after the death of Hamilton and the nominee for president as the Federalist Party declined. Both Charles Cotesworth and Thomas Pickney were also involved in the diplomatic efforts of the early Republic, Charles most notably with the French during the Adams presidency.

Charles III's contribution was limited to the political sphere and unlike his cousins tended toward the Jeffersonians or Democratic Republican Party. He also made noteworthy contributions to the constitutional convention, a feature examined by Williams. All of the cousins held leading offices both in the state of South Carolina and representing that state at the federal level.

I think this book is enlightening both on the revolutionary campaigns in the south and the role South Carolina and the Pickneys played in the early says of the republic. This book offers a fresh perspective on the dynamics of the early days of the United States and is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in this topic.