"Through the oils of [West Fraser's] mature style ... he has achieved a level of spontaneity in the plein air tradition that captures the essence of the lowcountry." So concludes the essay by Angela D. Mack that leads everyone from connoisseurs to those who simply enjoy the artistic images of the South Carolina lowcountry into a visual feast to stir the senses. The first book of its kind dedicated to the work of this plein air impressionist, Charleston in My Time: The Paintings of West Fraser celebrates the passion and independence West Fraser exhibits in his work, his amazing eye for natural light and landscapes, and his love of Charleston and the lowcountry.

The paintings which appear in the brochure are GNS Grocery, 2000 (on front cover); Morning glory, 1996; Breezy end of March, 1999; 126 Oak Street, 2000; Boxx's filling station, 1996; Powder magazine, 1997; Milk cellar, 2000; Put me in ..., 2000; The Holy City, 2000; Edisto Beach State Park, 1999; View from the People's Building, 1994; On a night like this, 1999; and God's golden light, 2001 (on back cover).

The beauty and spirit of coastal landscapes and waterways captured and celebrated in art Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser is a stunning collection of the works of West Fraser, one of the nation's most respected painters of representational art. A mastery of his medium and the scope of work ensure his place in southern art history. A true son of the lowcountry, Fraser has dedicated much of his career to capturing the lush, primordial beauty of the Southeast's coastal regions that have been altered by man and time. The 260 works in this book are representative of the sketches, studies, and finished paintings he has generated over his nearly forty-year career, works that depict coastal locales from Winyah Bay, South Carolina, to St. Augustine, Florida, and include Charleston, Hilton Head, Savannah, and the islands of the lowcountry through the Golden Isles of Georgia. Fraser's goal with each of his paintings is to create a portrait of what he calls "my country." He captures on canvas not only the visual beauty of the landscape, but the spirit and soul of each place. From the sultry streets of Savannah to the winding waterways and unique environs of the region's sea islands, the works included offer a view of the land he loves. Fraser augments his visual tour of the coast with original maps of the region and location coordinates of each painting, enhancing the viewer's knowledge and appreciation of the region as well as Fraser's artistic gift. Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser includes essays by Jean Stern, executive director of the Irvine Museum, and Martha R. Severens, Greenville County Museum of Art curator (1992-2010) and authority on southern art. Fraser has also written an autobiographical essay in which he discusses the experiences and influences that have shaped his work and his life as one of America's noted landscape artists.

Charleston is one of the most historically significant cities in the United States. One of the prime attractions of Charleston is the spectacular array of historic buildings spanning a wide variety of architectural styles. From simple pre-Revolutionary–era dwellings to spectacular Italianate, Greek Revival, and Victorian homes, to colonial government buildings, to some of the oldest and most beautiful churches, Charleston’s architectural splendor is unparalleled in the United States.

The vibrant, opinionated, and totally engaging voice of 85-year-old Emily Whaley transforms a guided tour of one of the most visited private gardens in America into a magical adventure, alive with tidbits of advice and deeply moving reflections. Illustrations.

The newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection: this special eBook edition of The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world. Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love. As the stories build to a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women’s rights movements. Inspired by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, Kidd goes beyond the record to flesh out the rich interior lives of all of her characters, both real and invented, including Handful’s cunning mother, Charlotte, who courts danger in her search for something better. This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved. Please note there is another digital edition available without Oprah’s notes. Go to Oprah.com/bookclub for more OBC 2.0 content

From the stately elegance of the Georgian era to the exuberant eclecticism of the twenty-first century, the houses of Charleston, South Carolina, are defined by great architecture and elegant design. This book offers an insider's view of the beautiful houses, gardens, and decorative arts that comprise the city's unique charm. This richly illustrated volume opens with an overview of Charleston's decorative arts and architecture, followed by sections entitled Elements of Charleston Style, Period Charleston, Eclectic Charleston, and, finally, Quintessential Charleston. Also included is a source guide to designers, shops, and manufacturers. This book will inspire and educate readers about the specifics of Charleston's style and the historic and contemporary spirits that infuse it. Susan Sully is a best-selling author whose publications include The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys; Casa Florida: Spanish Style Houses from Winter Park to Coral Gables; New Orleans Style: Past and Present; Charleston Style: Then and Now; and Savannah Style: Mystery and Manners. A graduate of Yale University with a degree in art history, Susan lectures frequently around the country and contributes articles to many newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, Southern Accents, Metropolitan Home, Art and Antiques, Town and Country Travel and Coastal Living. She lives in New Orleans.