Carolina Chansons: Legends of the Low Country, conceived and composed by Hervey Allen and DuBose Heyward, merges the rich tradition of the American South with the evocative power of poetic narrative. This anthology weaves together the diverse tapestry of Southern life, exploring themes of heritage, nature, and the human condition through various literary styles. The collection boasts a range of works that stand as testament to the nuanced complexity and enduring allure of the Carolina Low Country, each piece serving as a unique window into the soul of the South. The anthology's strength lies in its ability to capture the essence of its setting, making universal the very specific and localized experiences it describes. The contributing authors, Allen and Heyward, are themselves deeply embedded within the literary and cultural landscapes they depict. With backgrounds steeped in the same rich soils that nourish their tales, their collective works act as a bridge connecting readers to the historical and cultural underpinnings of the South Carolina Low Country. Allen and Heywards contributions are particularly noteworthy for their commitment to authenticity, effectively capturing the dialects, settings, and spirits of their chosen locale. This anthology stands as a harmonious symphony of voices, embodying the literary renaissance of the early 20th century South and offering insight into the cultural fabric of the region. Carolina Chansons is a must-read for those eager to explore the depths of Southern heritage and literature. The anthology presents an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the richness of Low Country lore, inviting readers into a world where each poem serves as a narrative beacon. For scholars and enthusiasts of American literature and Southern culture, this collection offers not just a journey through the heart of the Carolina Low Country, but also an educational voyage into the diversity of human experience as captured by two of the period's most significant figures. Through its exploration of local legend and landscape, Carolina Chansons enriches our understanding of place, history, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Coclanis here charts the economic and social rise and fall of a small, but intriguing part of the American South: Charleston and the surrounding South Carolina low country. Spanning 250 years, his study analyzes the interaction of both external and internal forces on the city and countryside, examining the effect of various factors on the region's economy from its colonial beginnings to its collapse in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Charleston, South Carolina, today enjoys a reputation as a destination city for cultural and heritage tourism. In A Golden Haze of Memory, Stephanie E. Yuhl looks back to the crucial period between 1920 and 1940, when local leaders developed Charleston's trademark image as "America's Most Historic City." Eager to assert the national value of their regional cultural traditions and to situate Charleston as a bulwark against the chaos of modern America, these descendants of old-line families downplayed Confederate associations and emphasized the city's colonial and early national prominence. They created a vibrant network of individual artists, literary figures, and organizations--such as the all-white Society for the Preservation of Negro Spirituals--that nurtured architectural preservation, art, literature, and tourism while appropriating African American folk culture. In the process, they translated their selective and idiosyncratic personal, familial, and class memories into a collective identity for the city. The Charleston this group built, Yuhl argues, presented a sanitized yet highly marketable version of the American past. Their efforts invited attention and praise from outsiders while protecting social hierarchies and preserving the political and economic power of whites. Through the example of this colorful southern city, Yuhl posits a larger critique about the use of heritage and demonstrates how something as intangible as the recalled past can be transformed into real political, economic, and social power.