Conroy, Pat

The author describes his experiences teaching on the island of Yamacraw off the coast of South Carolina, home to a mostly African-American, illiterate population.

The author reflects on his days at a South Carolina military college, recalling his love of basketball and its value to him as a means of self-expression, and shares experiences that shed new light on his novel "The Great Santini.".

In 1966, Will, a senior at the Carolina Military Institute, finds his views conflicting with those of his conservative, gung-ho classmates.

Jack McCall is an American living in Rome with his young daughter, trying to find peace after his wife's suicide. He tells of the dark memories that haunt his family and friends, spanning Rome and South Carolina, reaching back to the terrors of the Holocaust.

Tom Wingo is a high school football coach whose marriage and career are crumbling. He flies to New York after learning of his twin sister's suicide attempt. He realizes that while trying to save her, this may be his last chance to save himself as well.

Bull Meecham is all Marine, a fighter pilot, and absolute ruler of his family. Ben, his oldest son has to fight against a father who doesn't give in.

Novelist Pat Conroy reflects on how reading has influenced his life and the books that have shaped it.

The author reflects on his days at a South Carolina military college. He recalls his love of basketball and its value to him as a means of self-expression, and shares experiences that shed new light on his novel "The Great Santini.".

Bull Meecham is all Marine, a fighter pilot, and absolute ruler of his family. Ben, his oldest son, has to fight against a father who doesn't give in.