Pat Conroy’s Coastal South Carolina
Posted on March 18, 2010 - Filed Under Entertainment
Readers familiar with the author Pat Conroy think of him as being born in South Carolina because he has used that state’s coast and low country as settings in so many of his books. He was actually born in Georgia; however, being the son of a Marine colonel, he frequently moved around southern military bases. When he was 15, his family moved to historic Beaufort, South Carolina on Port Royal Island. Parris Island and a naval base are nearby. He desperately wanted to put down roots in this second oldest South Carolina town known for its antebellum architecture and quiet ways of living.
Conroy lived in South Carolina’s oldest city, Charleston, when he attended the Citadel Military Academy located there. He became a writer while at school, self-publishing his first book, “The Boos,” which criticized the academy’s policies. His 1980 book, “The Lord of Discipline,” also was inspired by his experiences at the academy, as is his recent memoir, “My Losing Season.”
After graduating from the Citadel, Conroy taught English in Beaufort. He then went to Daufuskie Island (a remote South Carolina island) where he taught in a one-room schoolhouse. After his first year there, he was fired for refusing to spank students and for his disrespect toward school administrators’ methods. His book, “The Water is Wide,” based on that experience was made into the movie, “Conrack” in 1974.
Conroy loved the Beaufort area so much that he has settled 19 miles south east of there, on Fripp Island. Beaufort was named by “Southern Living” magazine as the “Best Small Southern Town.” It was used as the setting in two movies made from Conroy’s books — “The Prince of Tides” and “The Great Santini.” As an aside, if you saw the movie “Forrest Gump,” then you’re familiar with Beaufort because it was also filmed there.
Tourists flock to the historic district in Beaufort. They often stay in nearby Charleston, where there are many luxury places to stay . Beaufort covers 304 acres and was founded by the French in 1562, though it didn’t become an official town until 300 years ago. In 2011 there will be gigantic celebrations marking that anniversary.
Beaufort offers many festivals for tourists and locals. Some of the major ones are:
A Taste of Beaufort — first Saturday in May
The Water Festival — middle of July
Shrimp Festival — first weekend in October
Tours of homes and plantations are big draws, as is Charleston. The state’s most popular park is nearby Hunting Island.
Conroy is very fond of Charleston, Colleton County, the barrier islands like Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. He has used these settings in some of his novels. “Beach Music” was set in Charleston. His most recent novel, “South of Broad,” published 14 years after his last book, is set there and refers to scenic Broad Street with its stately, colorful old mansions. In 1999, he published “The Pat Conroy Cookbook,” which contains his favorite recipes and stories to go with them, as well as stories about growing up in South Carolina.
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