By Jay Williams, Jr. As with the water that surrounds us, tourism can be a double-edged sword. Our harbor is beautiful, dramatic and calming. For centuries, water has defined Charleston and enhanced its allure. Water, like tourists, is an irreplaceable amenity. But too much water … We should love tourists. They bring in a lot of money. As of 2024, tourism’s economic impact had jumped by more than 45 percent since 2019, to $14 billion. Our 8,500,000 visitors account for almost a quarter of our...

By Peg Eastman Lord William Campbell by Thomas Gainsborough. Lord William Campbell (1730-1778) was the younger son of John Campbell, fourth Duke of Argyll. (Duke is a noble or royal ranking just below a king or prince, and the Campbells were one of the most powerful families in Scotland.) Unable to inherit due to the custom of primogeniture, William Campbell bought a commission in the Royal Navy in 1745 and served in India from 1752 to 1760. By August 1762, Lord William had risen to the rank...

By Martine P. Dulles and Frederick H. Dulles Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, Arthur Rimbaud, Stendhal, George Sand — you must recognize these names of major French writers. No, this article is not a book review, but an introduction to a unique cultural concept in France: Les Hôtels Littéraires. An avid book reader and bibliophile, Monsieur Jacques Letertre decided to share his passion for French literature. He writes: “I created the Société des Hôtels Littéraires to share my love of books...