Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm

by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

Cobblestone streets leading to perfectly preserved historic homes. Intricate wrought-iron gates opening to lush, fragrant gardens. A skyline of steeples and a river harbor bustling with schooners and sailboats. Charleston is one of America's most charming cities.

In vibrant watercolors and detailed sketches, artist Diana Gessler captures the beauty and riches that make Charleston so White Point Gardens, the Spoleto Festival, Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, Fort Moultrie, the beaches of Sullivan's Island, sumptuous Lowcountry cuisine, and handmade sweetgrass baskets. Full of fascinating details--on everything from the art of early entertaining, the city's inspired architectural and garden designs, and George Washington's Southern tour to famous Charlestonians and the flags of Sumter--Very Charleston celebrates the city, the Lowcountry, the people, and our history. Hand-lettered and full color throughout, Very Charleston includes maps, an index, and a handy appendix of sites.

With her cheerful illustrations and love for discovering little-known facts, Diana Gessler has created both an entertaining guide and an irresistible keepsake for visitors and Charlestonians alike.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History, Art, Southern, Reference

168 pages, Hardcover

First published March 14, 2003

About the author

Diana Hollingsworth Gessler is the author and illustrator of Very New Orleans, Very Charleston, and Very California. Her watercolors and oil paintings are represented by Shaw Gallery in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida. She and her husband live in Melbourne, Florida, when theyre not traveling."

Reviews

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

Stunning book to read through all about the history of my favorite city. The watercolors are beautiful and I even learned some new facts.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful watercolor and tons of information. Just makes me want to go back to see all that I’ve missed.

[Raquel Iacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was ecstatic to find this book in the Middleton Place Gardens bookstore! When I was in New Orleans last year, I found her book of that city and absolutely loved it. Her Charleston book is just as fantastic!! Such beautiful watercolor art, short and informative pages about so many attractions around Charleston. So excited to have these two books. I have to go to DC and California to collect her other two!!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely book with beautiful illustrations. History, culture of a lovely city. Enjoyed it very much

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just returned from a getaway to Charleston, SC and am craving more! Found this little gem at the library...Wonderful illustrations and lots of great info!

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic watercolor sketches complement the city guide. Would have been 5 stars but seemingly some undertones of Southern Sympathy was a bit off-putting.

[Kim Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artistically beautiful little book all about Charleston and what it has to offer.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book for light reading. Beautiful watercolour illustrations.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Hollingsworth Gessler’s Very Charleston is a charming book. Packed full of facts and anecdotes about Charleston, South Carolina, the book can be read in thirty minutes or so, then kept to refer to again and again. Gessler’s illustrations are beautifully wrought and fun, as well. This book is a perfect souvenir of a trip to Charleston (that’s how I acquired it,) but it would also make a lovely gift to anyone contemplating a trip or anyone who just loves to travel.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun primer for our first trip to Charleston, SC. We had a slight idea of which parts of this richly historic area we wanted to see on our visit. Fun book - quick & quirky, but not as much fun as Charleston itself!

[Stephanie Adair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for travelers to the charming city of Charleston. Filled with vibrant watercolors and beautiful sketches, this book is rich with historical details and facts about the Lowcountry.

[Helga Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated gem of a book about Charleston, SC. It highlights all the charms that make Charleston such a great city. I visit it frequently. We see the cobblestone streets, and the preserved historic homes with wrought iron gates. We visited the plantation homes-Middleton Place, Magnolia Gardens, Drayton Hall, and Boone Hall Plantation. We can wander around the Tea Plantation, Gold Rice farms and the Market where you will see ladies still making the sweetgrass baskets. The visitor will see the steeples of the many churches and places of worship making it the “Holy City”. The oldest active Reform Synagogue is located there. The river harbor is active with cruise ships, Maritime museum-housing the Hunley submarine and barges.

The cultures are brought out. Charleston is unique with White Point Gardens, the yearly artsy Spoleto Festival in spring, Rainbow Row homes, the Waterfront Park on the Battery. Fort Sumter, where the Civil War started, and more history was made during the Revolutionary War with Fort Moultrie at Sullivan’s Island. There are beautiful beaches along Charleston with Kiawah Island and Folly Beach driving through James Island and Johns Island and the Angel Oak on one side and the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island driving through the fishing village Mount Pleasant.

Charleston is also known for its outstanding Lowcountry cuisine with its many fine restaurants. This book celebrates the city, the Lowcountry people and history. It has beautiful art portraying the city and it highlights more interesting subjects. All these images and cultures are beautifully displayed. It is excellent as a visitor’s guide and even covers some areas recurring visitors may not have discovered. Reading this book will help the visitor maximize the city to visit it in full.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up from my Little Free Library a few months ago. My aunt, uncle and cousins moved to South Carolina, just outside Charleston, about 10 years ago, and I figured it would be handy in the event my husband and I ever go to visit. We recently decided to head down for a week this spring, so I figured I’d read through this as we started to plan our trip.

This is such a beautiful little handbook of what looks to be a colorful, fun city filled with rich history. Gessler’s illustrations are so special. Just a few pages in I searched for what other cities she’s written/illustrated books for.

I really enjoyed reading this and plan to refer back to it in the coming days. It would make a fantastic gift for someone traveling/moving to or currently living in/from the area. I’m thinking about gifting it to my aunt once we arrive.

[Mary-Lisa Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming little book that is now a part of my favorites collection!

It’s an entertaining read on the history and culture of Charleston, boasting interesting tidbits and a plethora of gorgeous watercolor illustrations that make this little hardcover a jewel in your reading arsenal.

I enjoyed reading up on the history of Charleston, the ‘points of interest and surrounding areas’ detailed at the end of the book with addresses and websites, and of course the recipe for sweet tea! Yummy yum!

I must make a note that the illustrations accompanying the descriptions gave this book a personal, almost whimsical feel that immediately connected me with the book. This cozy read is one you should snap up and enjoy with a cup of tea and some scones.

5/5

[Jessica Steiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little read with charming illustrations. A great companion while visiting Charleston, SC or to learn more about this unique city.
Learn about the historical gems that make this city one of the most beloved in the US. As a modern city Charleston has a lot to offer culturally as well as its beautiful weather; not to mention the kindest people on the planet. So much to explore- this book has a great 'feel' to it and is fun to read through as you plan your visit or remember those places you have enjoyed.

[SouthernGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book that captures the charm, elegance and atmosphere of one of the South's best cities. Author and illustrator Diana Hollingsworth Gessler does a wonderful job of bringing the people, historical sites, food and culture of Charleston to life. Sprinkled throughout are recipes such as oyster bisque, perfect sweet tea, and crab dip. Perfect little book for the Charleston tourist or for one who loves the area!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 'the' travel book to read while you're in Charleston or even better, before you travel to Charleston. With delightful illustrations and commentary, you get a scenic literary tour through all the things you should see in Charleston and things to look for if you just happen to be in that area of Charleston. Descriptions of cultural habits, flag design, background on those infamous houses, Charleston politicians and more. It is a delight.

[Bowen Tibbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in Blue Bicycle Books on a recent trip to Charleston. I’ve enjoyed reading through it over the last few weeks as a memento. The art is wonderful—beautiful and stylized. The pages are filled with a mix of historical information and local lore. It’s a great way to learn about the city. A perfect memento from a perfect weekend!

[Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a delight! I bought it while visiting Charleston last year. I wish I had read it then because I discovered so much about Charleston that I totally missed when I visited. I would highly recommend getting this before any visit to Charleston. And if you have already been to Charleston, relive that visit through the beautiful illustrations and interesting facts.

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book packed with a lot of information about that the history of Charleston. I loved the illustrations which made reading it so much more interesting. Keep in mind because this was written several years ago a few things have changed.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Above all, this is such a beautiful little book. The illustrations were charming. It's also very informative and I found myself smiling, as multiple locations are familiar to me. This is a keepsake guidebook.
Too bad my dog chewed the corner of my copy. But you can't have it all!

[Morgan Isern · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a fact and picture book than an actual “read,” but still very enjoyable. Adorable illustrations and fun tidbits about Charleston with great recommendations. An easy read (took me only about an hour), but would make a great continual reference or coffee table talking piece.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork… honestly I scanned some pictures to use on my Instagram!! Also nice easy read to get q little crash course on history before my trip… got me even more excited. Probably a little outdated (restaurant wise) but worth it still

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute and helpful book with beautiful illustrations. 4 stars because some of the info isn't current anymore. For example, the oldest fire station is closed. There was a lot of info about what was there and its operations.

[Shelby S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about my favorite city!! Very informative & fun to read

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun historical book about Charleston!

[Kieren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art!

[Brandy Vallance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The South. Historical buildings. Flowers. Delightfully illustrated. Memories.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The details are a little outdated now but it’s a beautiful book.