Join the College of Charleston Friends of the Library and author John Oller to explore the real story of the “George Washington of the South,” Francis Marion. Catapulted into popular memory by fictional depictions on television and in film, the historical Marion bears little resemblance to these caricatures. His exploits, however, were no less heroic. The first biography in nearly half a century, Oller’s “Swamp Fox” compiles striking evidence to provide a fresh look at Marion the man and his integral role in the American Revolution.
In this action-packed true story we meet many colorful characters from the Revolution: Banastre Tarleton, the British cavalry officer who relentlessly pursued Marion over twenty-six miles of swamp, only to call off the chase and declare (per legend), that “the Devil himself could not catch this damned old fox,” giving Marion his famous nickname; Thomas Sumter, the bold but rash patriot militia leader whom Marion detested; Lord Cornwallis, the imperious British commander who ordered the hanging of rebels and the destruction of their plantations; and “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, the urbane young Continental cavalryman who helped Marion topple critical British outposts in South Carolina. But most of all we’ll Francis Marion himself, “the Washington of the South”—a man of ruthless determination yet humane character, motivated by what his peers called “the purest patriotism.”
John Oller’s stories will no doubt be riveting to fans of this piece of Lowcountry legend.
Tickets to this event are free to the public, however RSVPs are requested. To reserve your tickets, please click here
John Oller, a lawyer and journalist, is the author of six non-fiction works of American history. A graduate of The Ohio State University and Georgetown University Law Center, Oller is a member of Biographers International Organization and the Dramatists Guild.