Charleston Style Then and Now
Category: Books,History,Americas
Charleston Style Then and Now Details
From Publishers Weekly What at first looks like a city booster's tour book of historic Charleston, this condensed version of Charleston Style: Past and Present holds high ambitions, namely capturing something of the grand decrepitude and dark complexity of Southern literature in the architecture and interior decorating of this charming port city. In brief profiles of local architectural prizes, with styles ranging from the Greek Revival to the Oriental, Sully paints a portrait of European, Caribbean and Asian influences. Steeped in memory and Old World manners, Charleston appears as a self-aware, cosmopolitan, vaguely haunted locale, caught between a sensual present and a seductive, perhaps decadent, past. Although the photos by Blais tend towards the antiseptic, Sully's text is richly voiced, and she enthusiastically educates the reader on the finer points of Charlestonian native childhood. Full of nostalgia, modesty and a bit of pretension, this book reveals Charleston's unique brand of regional sophistication, and the graceful style that it has cultivated as its own. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more About the Author Susan Sully, a resident of Charleston, South Carolina, has written numerous magazine articles on southern living and decor, and is also the author of Rizzoli's Savannah Style Read more
Reviews
A few months ago, I was looking for a book for my mom about homes and style that included historic Charleston, a favorite topic of hers (and mine!). On coming across "Charleston Interior" and loving it from the start, I stumbled across this book, and I knew I had to get it. It ended up being the perfect gift for the ardent Charleston lover, and while I eagerly ask to look in it and she grants me a bit of time, I think I'll have to be getting my own copy - she's so protective of hers!The pictures are wonderful and I adore them and all of the text. It even came in hardback - always a nice edition, especially to these types of books! The book was definitely (and still is) a success, and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of Charleston, history, style, and the like.
