Writer James Funk turns a spotlight on the city of Charleston SC, and the city comes out a 'hero'. This historical nonfiction has all elements of a 'must read' for history buffs interested the city's glorious 300-year history, tourists to Charleston, or anyone just interested in life in the old South. It is an easy read, employing story-telling at its best, weaving past with present in a refreshing, new and creative approach.
It can be argued that Charleston has been the most influential city in America's early years. History textbooks place emphasis on Philadelphia, Boston, Lexington, Yorktown, and Gettysburg ...author James Funk changes that, expanding reader's knowledge of the influential role Charleston played in the Revolution and Civil War.
The adventure begins when 'Marilyn and Jim' arrive as new residents of Charleston and learn of its rich history by visiting historic areas and 'imagining' what it was like to 'live' those events. Their story moves quickly, made lively by little known twists of irony, anecdotes, and humor. Story's cadence is changed, avoiding the monotonous beat of most historical 'textbooks', as the author interweaves trials and tribulations, and funny moments, as he and his wife restore a c.1850 'carriage house' made famous by the writings of famed TV personality and journalist, Charles Kuralt, upon his visit to Charleston. Kuralt wrote in his 1995 book "Charles Kuralt's America" of a "cocky mockingbird perched in the next door garden ...on a real moonlit night on Montagu Street". He went on to say, "the mockingbird and I resided together in style, he in his tree, I in a rented three-story 'carriage house' ...with garden view opening onto courtyard". That carriage house at 29 1/2 Montagu Street was later bought and restored by 'Marilyn and Jim' ...their efforts described amusingly in "THREE RIVERS FORM AN OCEAN". Charles Kuralt was invited to return to Charleston someday, and he mused, "perhaps I will ...I hope so ...I hope a mockingbird is singing".
Charleston is a national treasure. About 3 million persons visit the city each year, from as far as Europe and the Far East, making Charleston the 3rd most-visited city in America. In James Funk's book, city history unfolds from first settlers' arrival in 1670. The city's role is described leading to the Revolution as the British Crown's 'jewel' of the thirteen colonies. Later, Civil War starts as a tinderbox erupts from a 'spark' at Fort Sumter, perched on a tiny sandbar in Charleston harbor.
Charleston has survived shellings of two great armies and their occupation ...first by the British in the Revolution, then by Federal forces during siege and occupation in the Civil War. Fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and deadly disease have devastated the city. But, time and again, its citizens have rebuilt, demonstrating strength of character and resiliency that make them 'heroes' of this story. Today, Charleston stands as a national treasure,city leader's optimistic and confident that Charleston's future will be even better than its glorious past.
