South Carolina saw its first European colony in 1526, when Spaniards attempted to settle. Bass (humanities and social science, College of Charleston, emeritus) and Poole (history, College of Charleston) point out that five years before, the first explorers had commemorated their meeting of natives by capturing several as slaves. The themes of slavery and then segregation run through this history of the state. The authors follow other threads of settlement, industry and politics, but each of these rebounds to include racial tensions. The authors tell the story of South Carolina with affection and yet do not flinch at relating the negative aspects of its history, viewing their work as a cautionary tale. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)