Old Louisiana

About this book

A fascinating volume Old Louisiana chronicles much of the states history. Vignettes depict the early French settlers the later Spanish rulers and the rise and collapse of the great plantation era. Bringing to light old diaries letters and other rare sources Saxon creates a sensitive and realistic portrait of this charming colorful state and its people. The reader meets daring pioneers hot-tempered duellists aristocratic planters rough-hewn river men and Creole beauties. Both of these classic works include E. H. Suydams haunting detailed illus-trations which bring Saxons prose to life. Lyle Saxon (1891-1946) is renowned as one of Louisianas foremost authors. He was the central figure in the states literary community during the 1920s and 1930s and was well-known as a raconteur and bon vivant. He divided his time between his house in New Orleans and a cottage on the Melrose Plantation near Nachitoches. Among his other works are Father Mississippi Lafitte the Pirate Children of Strangers and Joe Gilmore and His Friends . He collaborated with Edward Dreyer and Robert Tallant on the perennial favorite Gumbo Ya-Ya . During the 1930s he headed the Louisiana WPA Writers Project which produced the WPA Guide to Louisiana and the WPA Guide to New Orleans.