Lessons from the Big House

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Summary: The true saga of a southern family maturing with the nation.
Review: A gifted and much-published writer, Frye Gaillard is a descendant of the French Huguenot GAILLARD family which was eminent in antebellum South Carolina and later in Mobile, Alabama. Using cherished family journals and legends as well as public records, the author has lovingly reconstructed the events and the flavor of his ancestors' lives. These people come to life as Frye reveals their characters and personalities. But this is more than the history of one family. The story begins in 1695 and continues to the modern day, with the family participating in many, if not all, of the important historical events of their day. The Gaillards were typical of many southern families, finding themselves at political odds with one another and with their neighbors at various times. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to understand the variety of opinions and convictions of the average southerner of those times. Some attention is given to the family's dependency on slavery,though not as much as one might expect considering the title of the book. Complete with photos and documentation, the book is valuable for those researching the Huguenot and planter families of the Charleston, SC area, but more than that, it is interesting and enlightening reading for anyone interested in American history or in the fabric of a southern family's life.