Wicked Charleston: The Dark Side of the Holy City

by Mark R. Jones

Wicked Charleston: The Dark Side of the Holy City, by local resident and tour guide Mark R. Jones, explores the dark alleys and seedy characters not often associated with the Charleston of today.
A beautiful Southern city distinguished by its opulent homes, towering church steeples and hospitality, Charleston, South Carolina, has long been associated with the genteel side of Southern living. However, beyond the outward appearances that most people associate with Charleston, there is another side that most visitors and residents would dare not believe is part of the very fabric from which the city's history was woven. From the sexual escapades of an original Lord Proprietor and the comings and goings of the most notorious pirates, to secret brothels and nightclubs, Jones leads the reader back to a time when "drinking, eating and whoring with more than fifty wenches" was perhaps more common in the Holy City than one may imagine.

Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction, Music

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Mark R. Jones is an eighth generation native of the South Carolina lowcountry. He is an author, historian, licensed guide and tour operator in Charleston, S.C. He has conducted more than 40,000 tours.

He is the author of seven other books. His first book kicked off the wildly popular Wicked series for The History Press. Wicked Charleston: The Dark Side of the Holy City (2005), was followed by Wicked Charleston, Vol. II: Prostitutes, Politics & Prohibition (2006).

In 2007, Jones published two true crime anthologies, Palmetto Predators: Monsters Among Us and South Carolina Killers: Crimes of Passion. Jones, and one of the Predator stories, was featured in the Investigation Discovery program “A Crime To Remember” in 2016.

In 2013, Jones published Doin’ the Charleston: Black Roots of American Popular Music & the Jenkins Orphanage Legacy and Kingdom By The Sea: Edgar Allan Poe’s Charleston Tales. In 2015, Jones published Charleston Firsts. and the Charleston Almanac.

Jones is also an active speaker, creating historical presentations for a wide variety of organizations - schools, libraries, corporate and civic organizations.

Reviews

[KB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this one - I think that was the better choice. Learned a lot about Charleston that I didn’t know! not for everyone though.

[Rebekkila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived in the city of Charleston for 14 years, I was aware of some of the wicked events that were detailed in the book. I had heard of the Lavinia Fischer story but the account I had heard was way more creepy. I also liked the pirate stories. I have been inside the Charleston exchange and toured the dungeon where the pirates were held. I knew of Anne Bonney and Mary Read, but I did not realize that they were lovers.
I wish that I had read the book when I lived there because it gave the street addresses of some of the homes where some interesting history took place. I would like to go back and look at these homes through different eyes.
One story that didn't make it in happened in the last fifteen years. I man claimed to have changed sexes and subsequently claimed to have become pregnant and gave birth. I read a story about it and it happened right downtown where the rest of these scandelous events in the book took place.
It is funny how in the book Marion square was not considered to be downtown. Marion Square houses the farmers markets and many festivals. Apparently it was once a popular spot for hanging people.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating recollection of Charleston legends, history, and how life was when the city was first established. I've personally taken both Bulldog Tours' Dark Side of Charleston tour and the Haunted Jail tour, and I really appreciated the author's truth in the stories. When I took the tours, the guides exaggerated so much and flat out lied sometimes. This book is a great asset to Southern historical literature.

[James Caskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever read a book and wish you had written it? Here's one of the best books about Charleston that I've ever read. Even with a re-read, it's still surprising how unbelievably and delightfully sinful the history of the 'Holy City' really is. No ghosts (although there is a great chapter about Lavinia Fisher), but enough sex, scandal, and good ol' fashioned deviance to make you never look at the place the same way ever again. Written in an engaging and entertaining style, the author combines a historian's flair for research with an apparent delight for the darker sides of human nature.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating recollection of Charleston legends, history, and how life was when the city was first established. I've personally taken both Bulldog Tours' Dark Side of Charleston tour and the Haunted Jail tour, and I really appreciated the author's truth in the stories. When I took the tours, the guides exaggerated so much and flat out lied sometimes. This book is a great asset to Southern historical literature.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend bought this book in a thrift shop in Utah, of all places, and gave it to me as gift when she came to visit. It was an entertaining read and eye-opening description of slavery. Most history books gloss over slavery, this one gave some very interesting details. If I was a history teacher I would include this book on the must read list.

The book ended abruptly hence the 4 star rating instead of 5 stars.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The telling of these stories felt like you were on a tour, makes sense as the author is tour guide. A nice little overview of each case. Not a bad quick read.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just OK. The main virtue of the book it that it leads you to a lot of other reading so you can find out much more about the 10 cases discussed in Jones's summaries of the situations.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love a bit of true crime, especially when it's all about the area where I live and places I know.

[Bibiana Krall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so awesome! It combines stories, myth, legend and history of one of my favorite Southern cities.

The next time I drive up there, I am bringing this book to page through and remind me of some of the landmarks to go see.

Or maybe I will just book the author for a tour?

My husband was born and raised on Sullivan's Island, so he's a local, but I am not and I love to know more about the city that never fails to reveal more of herself every time I walk the Battery. Definitely a must read for anyone who longs to travel to Charleston or for any history buff.

[DeAndria Amick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything and everything Charleston. Deep family roots back to the early 1700’s in South Carolina and tracing genealogy back let me know Charleston is only pretty on the outside. When I did a ghost tour the guide mentioned this book. It has touched on a lot of things I remember as a child of haints and being ridden by the hag. It’s also renewed my fascination with the pirates that roamed right off our beaches.

[Thomas Lehecka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and educational

A truly entertaining read about an enjoyable city. I learned a lot not only about Charles Town but also the state of human kind in Europe and the colonies in pre revolutionary days and into the Civil war.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. I love that it covers old school crimes.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the pace and storytelling of Mark R. Jones. There were many interesting stories of old Charles Town.
This wasn't a hard to put down book for me, but I still found it very engaging.

[Bethany Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was good to read things about my state. Other than Susan Smith I did not know anything about the others very interested

[Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of these stories are used in my job, and I really loved this. Used it as a pool read. Also really good version of Livenia’s story that is less tall-tale. A book I would buy my dad

[Izzy Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute little tourist book, not very nuanced

[Anna Wyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun historical read

[Sarah Vied · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book extremely interesting, especially since I've been living in Charleston for the past few years. I've always been drawn to Charleston because of its rich history, but had no idea about all of the debauchery and the city's drunkenness in its formative years. I felt myself imagining significant or interesting historical events that took place as described in the book and where all of the present day locations are. Charleston has so much history, but it was really cool to hear about a side I hadn't given much thought to before. I especially enjoyed learning more about Charleston's connections to King Charles (I and II) and to England in general. I find it interesting to know where we come from as Americans.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this copy of Wicked Charleston in preparation for skyring's visit in Australia. I'm hoping to be able to ask the author to sign it, and also hoping to take skyring on the Wicked Charleston tour. Seems like it would be his cuppa!

Any book that begans with the quote: "A man with an erection heeds no advice," has got to be a fun read.

Wicked Charleston is the history of drinking, prostitution, murder, wayward ministers, lesbian pirates and crime & punishment of Charleston, SC from 1670 thru 1840. Populated by shady characters and filled with historically documented cases of wenching, slave rebellions and the "Greatest Whoremaster in England".

[Charlene Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like opening a treasure chest; one in which the author, Mark R. Jones, shares his love of Charleston and its history.
The city is lovingly described its scents, colors, architecture, the people. The flavor of this southern city is on every page. The story of the Jenkins Orphange Legacy and how instrumental it is in the emergence of Jazz is fascinating. This is a book every jazz lover, southern history buff, or someone looking for a really interestng and fun book should read. I am definitely adding this author to my "read everything" list.


Charlene Connors

[Lucienne wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by a tour guide for the city of Charleston, SC, and it definately has that type of feel to it, but I really liked it. With such great chapters as "Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper- the Greatest Whoremaster," and pirate stories, what's not to like! I'm not really sure how to recomend this one, if you've been to Charleston- read it. If you haven't... read it if you like short, odd, historiaclly accurate tales then you should read it too.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating recollection of Charleston legends, history, and how life was when the city was first established. I've personally taken both Bulldog Tours' Dark Side of Charleston tour and the Haunted Jail tour, and I really appreciated the author's truth in the stories. When I took the tours, the guides exaggerated so much and flat out lied sometimes. This book is a great asset to Southern historical literature.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This was okay, and certainly enlightened me to just how violent South Carolina was during the early 1900s, but it didn't go into very much detail. Each case write-up was only a few pages long. I wish it had been more in-depth.

[Pam Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more things change, the more they remain the same. A collection of true crime stories that have occurred in South Carolina during a 100 year time period. Corruption and the good old boy system show how the meaning of justice depends on who the criminal was.

[Caroline Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

Got to meet the author when in Charleston and He is brilliant! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the United States or Charleston .

[Sylvie Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want the down and dirty on Charleston's history, this is a great book for the job.

[Lexi Gravino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy stories about Charleston's early days.