Secrets of the Holy City: 5 Stories Only Harlan Greene Can Tell
Join us for the English Department’s Visiting Scholar series on October 22–23, 2025
Harlan Greene ’74, historian, novelist, archivist, master storyteller and former director and scholar-in-residence for Addlestone Library’s Special Collections, is returning as the English Department’s visiting scholar on October 22-23, 2025. In a series of events including lectures and walking tours, Greene will peel back the layers of the city’s past, uncovering literary legacies, revealing hidden LGBTQ+ narratives and sharing stories that paint a more honest picture of the Holy City.
Julia Eichelberger, professor of English, says the English Department selects one or more visiting scholars to visit campus for presentations and conversations with faculty and students every year.
“Harlan Greene’s works change the way we see our city and our society. People should come to these events to learn some of the lesser known stories of the College and the city and why they matter to us today,” says Eichelberger. “You’ll be inspired by the men and women he writes about, and you’ll be impressed by the breadth of his knowledge and the variety of methods he’s used to tell these stories.”
Five Unexpected Tales From a Master Storyteller:
1. The Real Rainbow Row Isn’t What You Think
Forget the pastel-colored historic homes on East Bay Street. Greene’s book The Real Rainbow Row: Explorations in Charleston’s LGBTQ History paints true stories about the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. Drawing on years of research and oral histories, Greene’s book and walking tour brings to life the people and places left out of Charleston’s historical narrative.
2. Why We Never Danced the Charleston
Greene’s debut novel Why We Never Danced the Charleston dives into the city’s closeted gay life in the 1920s. During his Oct. 23 talk Facts and Fictions, and What Lies Between, Greene explores his career as a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, reflecting upon how these genres overlap and the link between his own nonfiction and fiction.
3. Dorothy Heyward: The Ghost Behind Porgy and Bess
In Porgy’s Ghost, Greene corrects the long-standing omission of Dorothy Heyward’s influence on her husband DuBose Heyward’s novel Porgy, which became the iconic opera Porgy and Bess. During his Oct. 23 talk, Greene will discuss his inspiration for writing this monograph.
4. Charleston’s Literary DNA
On Oct. 22, Greene joins College of Charleston faculty for Ways of Writing About Charleston, a conversation highlighting projects he’s spearheaded. From Mapping Jewish Charleston to installing historical and commemorative markers on campus and launching the SC LGBTQ+ Collection digital initiative, Greene’s impact on preserving and sharing Charleston’s stories is remarkable.
5. LGBTQ+ History Hidden in Plain Sight
From Marion Square to Rivers Green, Greene’s Oct. 23 walking tour will uncover long-buried stories now brought to light through meticulous research and storytelling. It’s an exploration of history with heart, humor and humanity.
Full schedule of events:
- Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m., Simons Center 380. Ways of Writing About Charleston: CofC Faculty in Conversation with Harlan Greene
- Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to noon. LGBTQ+ History Walking Tours
- Thursday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m. Facts and Fictions, and What Lies Between: A Conversation with Historian and Novelist Harlan Greene
