Against the Tide: One Woman's Political Struggle [Hardcover]

Harriet Keyserling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

Against the Tide tells the intensely personal story of Harriet Keyserling, an unconventional politician struggling to gain self confidence, beat the odds, and make a lasting difference. Tracing Keyserling’s journey into the world of "good ol’ boy" Southern politics and her labors to reform the political system in South Carolina, it is the story of a woman who arrived a Yankee liberal and became an effective eight-term legislator in the South Carolina House of Representatives. At a time when the political tide was turning, Keyserling proved that one person can effect change in spite of overwhelming obstacles. In the new preface to this paperback edition, Keyserling brings her story up to the present and discusses its relevance to a radically different political scene.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Against the Tide is the best book I have ever read about the byzantine politics of the South. It makes issues that bore me to death absolutely fascinating. The book is passionate, necessary, and extraordinarily well-written. It has the look of a classic."—Pat Conroy

"This is a marvelous memoir—modest, brave, principled, and compassionate, just like the woman who wrote it."—David S. Broder

"This book is not just a call to women to join in political struggles. It is an inspiration on another level—as proof that one courageous person can bring about change in the face of overwhelming odds."—Southern Changes

"Harriet Keyserling’s insider account will provide lasting historical insight into an important period of political change."—South Carolina Historical Magazine --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

HARRIET KEYSERLING graduated from Barnard College with honors in economics and mathematics. She lives in Beaufort, South Carolina. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Univ of South Carolina Pr (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570032718
• ISBN-13: 978-1570032714
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,734,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great primer for women interested in government, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Against the Tide: One Woman's Political Struggle (Hardcover)

This piece is a great primer for those interested in having a public impact but, because of age, sex or gender, don't project their views. A 54 year old Jewish woman living in South Carolina gained the courage to speak out . . . and was heard. Easy reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Against the tide, December 20, 1999

By 

J.M. Prince (Ga.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Tide: One Woman's Political Struggle (Hardcover)

This is a marvelous and instructive memoir on Ms. Keyserling's many years in active politics in South Carolina. She battled long odds in a deeply conservative state and was able to accomplish much in her 16 years in the State Legislature. She was an early and important ally of former SC governor and current Secretary of Education Richard Riley, and was one of the leaders who helped pass the progressive educational reforms that improved that state's educational standing and performance. She overcome much to fight the 'good fight' for progressive environmental laws, energy conservation, regulation of nuclear and solid waste, and promotion of the arts. The forward is by Richard Riley and she has glowing recommendations from novelist Pat Conroy, former U.S. Senator Nacy Kassebaum Baker and columnist David Broder. She is a long time member of the League of Women Voters, and that group was very instrumental in most of her political battles. I enjoyed the book and found it useful and enlightening. JMP

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Against the Tide" Swims Brilliantly, September 14, 2001

By 

LEON L CZIKOWSKY (Harrisburg, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Tide: One Woman's Political Struggle (Hardcover)

This book will interest students of politics who wish to learn the observations of a liberal Democrat elected official who participated and observed the past three decades of the emergence of the politics of the "New South".
Harriet Keyserling retired from the South Carolina state legislature in 1992 and has produced this brilliant insightful insider account of that legislative body. A legislator who was devoted to such issues as increasing support for education and resisting nuclear waste in her state, she offers several lessons from her experiences.
Among points to ponder presented in the book are a.) alliances can be formed around agenda items that transcend political partianship, b.) be open and honest with the press and they will trust you and treat you better in the long run, c.) recognize that not all men nor all women think alike, even though men and women may approach some issues differently, and d.) all issues are women's issues and women legislators should not feel compelled to limit themselves to matters others believe primarily concern women.
The legislative infighting described in this book will interest students of South Carolina politics. Her descriptions of many South Carolina Governors as essentially cheerleaders for the Chamber of Commerce provides insights into interest groups and government. Legislative observers will appreciate learning how as much to one third to one half of South Carolina legislative sessions used to be spent engaging in fillibusters.
Rep. Keyserling is proud of her efforts to create a dedicated sales tax for education and for creating South Carolina
s Sunny Day Fun. Towards the end of her career, South Carolina politics transcended into an arena of great confrontation and tension. Disliking these changes, she left politics. Harriet Keyserling, though, has left us with her knowledge and insights in this book. Readers will appreciate her writings.