Stinking Stones and Rocks of Gold: Phosphate, Fertilizer, and Industrialization in Postbellum South Carolina By Shepherd W. McKinley From our New Perspectives on the History of the South series comes the first ever book on the role of phosphates in the South Carolina plantation economy. In this top-down, bottom-up history, Shepherd McKinley shows how phosphate … Continue reading Stinking Stones and Rocks of Gold
The Life and Lies of Paul Crouch
The Life and Lies of Paul Crouch: Communist, Opportunist, Cold War Snitch by Gregory S. Taylor “Incisive, provocative, thoughtful, jargon-free, a good read.”—Daniel Leab, author of I Was a Communist for the FBI After fifteen years of devoted service, Paul Crouch left the Communist Party as public perceptions of Communism shifted in the years following … Continue reading The Life and Lies of Paul Crouch
Crossing the Line
Crossing the Line: Women's Interracial Activism in South Carolina during and after World War II by Cherisse Jones-Branch Despite a deeply segregated society, many women in South Carolina—both black and white—worked to change their state’s unequal racial status quo. Exploring women’s activism in the tumultuous years during and after World War II, Cherisse Jones-Branch contends that … Continue reading Crossing the Line
Conservative Bias
Conservative Bias: How Jesse Helms Pioneered the Rise of Right-Wing Media and Realigned the Republican Party by Bryan Hardin Thrift Learn how a media mastermind harnessed the emerging power of the household television to lay the foundation for the modern conservative movement. Although the South used to be a Democratic stronghold, Jesse Helms’ TV programming … Continue reading Conservative Bias
The Intriguing, Paradoxical Zephaniah Kingsley Jr.: Q&A with Daniel Schafer
An Interview with Daniel L. Schafer author of Zephaniah Kingsley Jr. and the Atlantic World: Slave Trader, Plantation Owner, Emancipator “A visit to Kingsley Plantation… convinced me that this was a topic of national and international importance that had somehow escaped scholarly attention.’” – Daniel L. Schafer DANIEL L. SCHAFER Professor of History Emeritus and … Continue reading The Intriguing, Paradoxical Zephaniah Kingsley Jr.: Q&A with Daniel Schafer
Jerald T. Milanich on Enchantments: Julian Dimock’s Photographs of Southwest Florida
An Interview with Jerald T. Milanich co-author of Enchantments: Julian Dimock’s Photographs of Southwest Florida “[Dimock and his father] apparently first came to Florida to experience life in what was viewed as an “exotic,” still “untamed” setting… there they discovered what to them was a new world.’” – Jerald T. Milanich JERALD T. MILANICH … Continue reading Jerald T. Milanich on Enchantments: Julian Dimock’s Photographs of Southwest Florida
American Horror Story: Coven Season Finale Fact v. Fiction
With an over-the-top season finale that drew 4.2 million viewers, American Horror Story: Coven left many fans disappointed. Carolyn Long considers the elements that stayed (at least a little bit) true to history and points out several of the bigger divergences. "These were great characters in a great setting—if only we’d gotten to know them better," commented The … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Season Finale Fact v. Fiction
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #4
Who will be the next Supreme? Tonight's season finale of American Horror Story: Coven is guaranteed to be action packed and full of surprises. Carolyn Long offers up another fascinating primer on the crossover and parallels between history and the gore-filled, betrayal-fueled world inhabited by the characters of Coven, this time focusing on episodes 10 and 11. The show took … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #4
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #3
Only two days left until the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven! Recapping episodes 6-9 with a look at where history influenced the plot of Coven, Carolyn Long gives fans a lot to think about. As far-fetched and fantastical as much of Coven may seem, it's easy to forget that true events in the … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #3
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #2
Only 6 more days until the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven and Carolyn Long is back to tide you over with a look at where history parallels or completely contradicts the storyline! If you're just getting started, see the first post in our Coven series to get an overview of the cast and … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #2
The Florida Bookshelf 