THE SWEET HELL INSIDE A Family History

Hardback. The author chronicles the Harleston family of South Carolina, descendants of a white plantation owner, William Harleston, and his former slave, Kate Wilson. Spanning from the post-Civil War era to the Civil Rights movement, the book traces their rise from slavery’s shadow to prominence in the “high yellow” society of America’s Black elite. Through a successful funeral parlour business, the Harlestons achieved wealth, enjoying luxuries like chauffeurs and tailored clothes. Their story, enriched by recollections from family archivist Edwina Harleston Whitlock, highlights achievements in art, music, and photography, including a portrait artist who painted Pierre Du Pont, a classical composer in 1920s Paris, and the founder of the Jenkins Orphanage Band, influential in jazz and ragtime. Despite their success, they faced segregation, early deaths, and social stigma, revealing a complex, vibrant family saga. Illus., Notes and Index. 384pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. With remainder mk. to lower edges o/w Nr. F. in F. protected dw. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage if shipped overseas.