New Book Releases

Bayou St. John played a significant role in the neighborhood of the same name, fueling debate over the waterway's use, control and ownership for centuries.

Native Americans first used it as a trade route. Later, it became a backdoor entrance for settlers to the present-day French Quarter. As commercial use declined, residents witnessed a progressive shift toward recreation. Following the Civil War, tourists flocked to witness Marie Laveau's voodoo ceremonies. The early twentieth century brought two amusement parks. And events like the Bayou Boogaloo music festival draw thousands of visitors. Despite its many costume changes, the bayou continues to be the Crescent City's most beloved waterway. Author Cassie Pruyn reveals this evolving story.

If the opportunities within her reach are intelligently realized, New Orleans will become one of the great centers of the world. Love of country is a feeling inherent in every normal boy and girl. Community patriotism--an outgrowth of the modern conditions of life--takes the form of great pride in one's native city, or in the city one has adopted as one's home, and inevitably leads to good results. We want to inculcate in the children of our city a keen, vivid interest in its past history, in its present, and in its future. Economy in government, good order, cleanliness, and honesty must be the outcome of the education of the children, if our city is to take and maintain its place in civilization. That the growth of a city is measured by the civic interest of its people is a recognized fact. New conditions demand that all children should be taught they are the coming responsible heads of the community. There was a time when the national government was controlled principally by men from small towns or farms. Today, our Presidents are city men who are calling into their cabinets advisors from our great municipalities, thus proving, "He who makes the city makes the world."

Where y'at? In New Orleans, this simple question can yield hundreds of answers. People on the same block might say that they live in Pigeon Town, Pension Town or Carrollton, but they have surely all danced together at the neighborhood's Easter Sunday second-line. Did you know that gospel queen Mahalia Jackson grew up singing in a little pink church in the Black Pearl or that Treme is the oldest African American neighborhood in the country? In an exploration that weaves together history, culture and resident stories, Maggy Baccinelli captures New Orleans' neighborhood identities from the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain.

In the preparation and compilation of data for the publication of such a book as will give with accuracy and clearness the varied and immense resources of a State which is only yet in the infancy of its development it is necessary to cull from every available source possible. In this book we have taken from our previous hand-books, we have given copious extracts from Hon. Jos. E. Ransdell's "On to Dixie" speech in the House of Representatives in the Sixty-first Congress, almost his entire speech, "The Lure of the Southland," recently delivered in the United States Senate; we have copied from the National Magazine the article of Garnault Agassiz on "The Untold Treasures of Louisiana," and are under obligations to Professors W.R. Dodson, W.H. Dalrymple, E.S. Richardson, E. Pegram Flower and many others for courtesies extended, and to the United States Agricultural and Census Bureaus for valuable data.

Tragedy and destruction abound in this region and in these pages, but heroism, glory and Cajun flair come in equal measure.

From the improbable Thoroughbred Twenty-Twoinit, which defied odds and burned Vegas oddsmakers at Evangeline Downs, to the destitute Reconstruction-era Cajuns who sought recompense from the federal government after the war, history comes to life in these retellings by historian and yarn spinner William Thibodeaux. Before "serial killer'? was a term, a vile murderer stalked the streets of then-tiny Lafayette, inciting unimaginable terror. All too familiar are harrowing tales of locals who battened down the hatches as horrible storms roared forth. From the hills to the bayous, Acadiana has quite a story to tell, especially for those who lean in close to listen.

Louisiana is perhaps best known for its distinctive French heritage, a legacy visible in the street names and architecture around the state.

The truth is, Louisiana has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the nation, with not only French and Anglo-American settlers, but the Native Americans who lived there already, and the enslaved Africans the new colonists brought with them into Louisiana Territory. A chapter of Louisiana history that tends to be forgotten however, is when the area fell to Spanish control in the late 1700s. Coaxed by promises of new opportunity, thousands of Canary Islanders of Spanish descent relocated to Louisiana, where they established four settlements. Generations of Isleños, that is the ethnic group of descendants from the Canary Islands who have intermarried with other communities, have overcome the challenges of an evolving American society, as well as the devastation of storms that have ripped through their land. Through it all, the Isleños have preserved their unique heritage, traditions and culture for more than two centuries.

Baton Rouge is known for its rich history, food, politics, music and universities. Perhaps overlooked are the stories of how this large port city's close-knit neighborhoods have adapted to changes over the years. Annabelle Armstrong deftly navigates the evolution of these historic communities, showcasing southern charm and romanticism through firsthand accounts of people who call these places home. Journey back to the beginnings of Hundred Oaks, Capital Heights, University Acres, Wimbledon, Tara, Inniswold, Glenwood, Walnut Hills, Stratford, Steele Place, Broussard, Southdowns and many more popular places to settle down.

Nearly as old as the city itself, Oakland Cemetery is one of Shreveport's most significant historical landmarks. Notable residents were laid to rest here as early as 1842. In a mass grave lie nearly eight hundred victims of a virulent yellow fever epidemic that struck the city in 1873. Others interred include Annie McCune, the famous Shreveport madam who operated a brothel in the city's red-light district, as well as hundreds of Civil War soldiers, city founders and the first African American physician, Dr. Dickerson Alphonse Smith. Some souls are said to haunt the grounds still. Join authors Gary D. Joiner and Cheryl White and discover some of Shreveport's oldest stories.

Louisiana's famous Cajun Country is a place where today's travelers can still experience the rich heritage and traditions that began in the eighteenth century.

From foodways and folktales to music and festivals, Acadiana offers something you can't get anywhere else. Journey through this historic and unique part of the state with travel writer and historian Cher Coen as your guide Experience Cajun Country through its exceptional cuisine, area events, and historic attractions.