Book Review: Legends and Lore of South Carolina

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. However, all opinions are my own.

I have this love of history and tend to retain facts that most people wouldn't give a second thought. I also have this obsession with knowing strange facts and the nuggets of history that are not well known- especially about South Carolina. That is one reason I love reason I love reading Sherman Carmichael books.

Legends and Lore of South Carolina ($16.99 Arcadia Press) is one of those books that grabbed my attention and took me back in time. Since I have spent almost all of my life in South Carolina, I have had the opportunity to see so many traditions and this book gives a new look at many of these traditions, like the Gullah blue bottle trees.

I am from Beaufort, lived most of my life in the upstate, and attended Winthrop University. All of these places have deep and beautiful history that you can see by exploring the beauty they hold. Apart from that, there is always something a little darker going on. These places are no exception. I have been interested in these things since a young age and love that this book expands on the stories I have heard and adds more to my knowledge. This has become a staple in my library and I refer to it often.

This new collection of eighty strange and unusual South Carolina legends is rooted in the state's deep history. Some originated centuries ago, such as the Agnes of Glasgow story in Camden and that of the ghostly dwarf jester Gauche, said to haunt a Beaufort mansion. Certain places hold secrets from different eras, including White Wolf Road in Blacksburg and the state's numerous historic cemeteries like the one at Salem Black River Church in Mayesville. These pages also contain simple explanations for local lore, like the Gullah tradition behind blue bottle trees that still decorate Carolina gardens today. These and many more crowd-pleasing yarns can be found in this volume from the desk of master storyteller, author and researcher Sherman Carmichael.