South Carolina Books

Compiled and edited by Horace Randall Williams, Weren't No Good Times is an anthology of 46 of the 125 interviews of former Alabama slaves, conducted from 1936 to 1938, presented with the express purpose of thoroughly documenting and creating a record of life during slavery in the southern state of Alabama. A powerful primary source, presenting individual voices with a loud and clear message of what slavery itself was truly like, Weren't No Good Times has the absolute highest recommendation and is a must for school and community libraries and American History and Black History reference collections and reading lists.

Should be required reading for Upstate school kids. Brings to life a time long forgotten!

Though Emma writes from the perspective of the losing side of the Civil War, and though her beliefs on race clash greatly with our times, her persistence in the face of horrible suffering is a magnificent example to us all. She stands as testimony to the powerful spirit of the South and of Southern women in particular. Were we as committed to the ideals of our day as she was to those of her day, ours would be a powerful society indeed. Her diary is all the more shocking when you realize that she was only seventeen when she began writing

The root causes for Southern secession are generally accepted and were as simplistic as the general excitement that drew thousands to their respective state's call for volunteers. More difficult to understand are the many factor which sustained their willingness to fight so hard for so long.

Sheehan-Dean identifies motivations strong enough to outweigh powerful discouragements. As the war progressed, the initial zeal was dampened by camp boredoms, disease, conscription, shortages and strategic setbacks. However, tactical victories, confidence in military leadership, Northern depredations, sense of divine purpose and defense of family fortified the common man's willingness to resist by keeping the original ideals of the war alive.

The general Southern view of slavery as essential to the Southern economy is reiterated. But more importantly, slavery was the great Southern irony, viewed as a foundation of white liberty. From that perspective, the Confederate soldier's choice was simply victory or death.

The author presents reasonable arguments solidly backed by sound scholarship and documentation. This student of his own humble, Southern ancestry better understands his progenitors' heretofore seemingly irrational consistency and fanatic loyalty to that "rich man's war - poor man's fight."

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The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks is a fascinating examination of the wild horse herd that exists on an island at the remote southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks. This wild animals are protected from direct human intrusion, and their natural herd behavior studied by scientists; at the same time, circumscribed "wilderness management" involving genetic testing and immunocontraception is necessary to prevent the herd from overgrazing its own food supply. Are these animals truly horses, or ponies? Did the originate from horses that were cast off from foundering Spanish galleons, or did they come to the island much more recently? Are they a threat to the island's ecology? Readily accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks offers a sweeping overview of perspectives and theories concerning the herd, the history of how it came to be protected, and why they are popularly beloved among visitors. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this "must-have" for equine fans.

A must have compendium of SC species presented in a first-hand accounting of one man's remarkable journey with these plants. Each has a photo of a grouping in situ and closeups of floral parts, there is room for notes and extensive explanations of habitat needs, personal observations, recollections and recommendations for where you might find the plant. This is an exceptional book and I highly recommend it. I recently had an opportunity to correspond with the author and his intoxication with our wild orchids is contageous and enlightening.

This book is fantastic for anyone interested in the Flora of North Carolina. I use it regularly. A must buy for both amateurs and expert Botanists.

This little book is just what it is aiming to be - a neighborhood history, coming alive through residents still living and sharing stories of times past. Realistic black and white photos make it easy to feel a walking down the streets and alleys.

Wilmington has been shown in a lot of movies. It's a beautiful city located in coastal North Carolina. But i have to congrat the authors and other people involved for their job by doing this book. It's absolutely wonderful! Has a lot of information and tons of great pictures. Now that i've read this book, i know why producers and directors choose Wilmington as a location for their movies and series. Really excelent book !

Windows of the Heart: The Correspondence of Thomas Wolfe and Margaret Roberts collects seventy-five letters exchanged between twentieth-century author Thomas Wolfe and his influential grade-school teacher, Margaret Roberts, whom he called "the mother of my spirit". These writings reveal their complicated relationship, and a driving force in Wolfe's life and personal growth. For her part, Roberts was one of Wolfe's strongest supporters of his literary potential since his talent shined through in a writing contest he won at age eleven. Now their letters are published in their entirety for the first time, along with forty-two black-and-white photographs; the result is a welcome addition to literary studies shelves and a "must-read" for anyone seeking to understand more about Wolfe's life and works.