Moonlight, Magnolias, and Madness is a social history of the perceptions and treatment of the mentally ill in South Carolina over two centuries. Examining insanity in both an institutional and a community context, Peter McCandless shows how policies and attitudes changed dramatically from the colonial era to the early twentieth century. He also sheds new light on the ways sectionalism and race affected the plight of the insane in a state whose fortunes worsened markedly after the Civil War. Antebellum asylum reformers in the state were inspired by many of the same ideals as their northern counterparts, such as therapeutic optimism and moral treatment. But McCandless shows that treatment ideologies in South Carolina, which had a majority black population, were complicated by the issue of race, and that blacks received markedly inferior care. By re-creating the different experiences of the insane--black and white, inside the asylum and within the community--McCandless highlights the importance of regional variation in the treatment of mental illness.

Reprint of (manifestation): Lotions, potions, pills, and magic / Elaine G. Breslaw. New York: New York University Press, Ã2012.

A cursed ring. A forgotten grave. A magical enemy. Can Annabella escape her family's fate? Annabella has done her best to put behind her all memories of her childhood being raised as an unwanted ward in the gothic family mansion. As the secretary to the flamboyant Errol, Duke of Winchester, she's seen the world and avoided her family's clutches. But now she must return to that elegantly-decayed, antebellum house on the historic Battery in Charleston, South Carolina, where the "moonlight and magnolias" atmosphere hides some deadly family secrets. Returning for the wake of her aged relative, Henrietta, who hasn't left her South of Broad showplace for decades, Annabella walks into the chilly embrace of her Cousin Beatrix and the woman's much-too-attractive new assistant, Armand, whose words of encouragement and warning keep arriving inexplicably in her mind. In just a few hours, the house reclaims her. She finds herself waking up in her deceased relative's bed and clothes, Henrietta's ring on an unremovable chain around her neck. And, even as she begins to realize that magic is real and her friends and Armand hope to save her with it, it's starting to look as though the terrifying mansion and its demonic secrets may never let her leave. Katherine Gilbert, author of the quirky urban fantasies Protecting the Dead and Unearthly Remains, shows a more serious side in this chilling Southern Gothic tale (but not without a bit of quirk!). On a Gilbert wackiness scale of 1-to-10 sarcastic talking cats*, this one is about a 3. *Warning: Not all stories contain talking cats. Wackiness may take other forms.

What Sinister Secrets Lurk in the Shadows of Yesterday? Natchez, Mississippi—Private Investigator Nate Price and his new wife, Isabelle, need a vacation. Their coworkers generously team up to surprise them with a belated honeymoon...but the happy trip turns sour when Izzy spies her ex-husband, who appears to have taken up his gambling addiction once again. While the boss is away, Price Investigations remains in the hands of Beth Kirby, a former police officer, and Michael Preston, a former forensic accountant. Hardly a dream team, as Beth resents working with a man who has no experience in his new job. But Beth and Michael must move past their differences if they hope to uncover the truth behind a beloved Southern preacher's demise. The preacher's widow suspects foul play, despite the evidence indicating suicide. With tension escalating between these investigators and local law enforcement—and new threats arising on all sides—how will Beth, Michael, and Nate hold on to faith and bring the truth to light?

Magical Oils by Moonlight is a unique work that explores the craft of blending and using oils for both pleasure and power, laid out across the monthly cycle of the Moon's phases. This is a complete guide to all aspects of wish magic and spiritual attunement, with an extensive essential oil reference section. Drawn from the lifetime study of a traditional practitioner, Magical Oils by Moonlight brings all of these elements together in one beautifully illustrated volume. From the basics of aromatherapy to complete recipes for magical oils, incenses, bath products and candles, this is treat for the eye as well as a rich reference for anyone seeking to explore the realm of magic and personal spiritual awareness. It is a must-have reference work for anyone interested in magical oils, from the novice to the experienced practitioner.

A collection of essays that explores magical realism as a momentary interruption of realism in US ethnic literature, showing how these moments of magic realism serve to memorialize, address, and redress traumatic ethnic histories.