French Literature of Louisiana - by Ruby Caulfeild (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Louisiana has a vibrant French history, one that has been kept alive through language, tradition, and literature. Carefully studied in this scholarly commentary are the efforts of the French-speaking inhabitants, the Creoles of European descent, to preserve that heritage and spirit, especially through the writings of the culture.

From the Back Cover

Louisiana has a vibrant French history, one that has been kept alive through language, tradition, and literature. Carefully studied in this scholarly commentary are the efforts of the French-speaking inhabitants, the Creoles of European descent, to preserve that heritage and spirit, especially through the writings of the culture. The volume examines written histories, newspapers, poetry, novels, drama, and miscellaneous writings of authors identified with Louisiana and contains biographical information as well as historical summaries of these influential works in French.
Major works, such as Charles Gayarrï¿1/2's histories and Dominique Rouquette's poems, are addressed in each section. Victor Sï¿1/2jour, who was published in Les Cenelles, the first anthology of poetry by African Americans, also is included. The meticulously researched bibliography provides a comprehensive list of texts in French from colonial times to the early 1900s. Each entry includes the library or private collection where the work can be found.

About the Author

Ruby Van Allen Caulfield prepared this work in conjunction with the Institute of French Studies at Columbia University. In gathering information for this work, she researched sources at Columbia University, the New York Public Library, the New York Historical Library, the Baton Rouge Public Library, Tulane University Library, and the Library at the State House in Baton Rouge. She made most substantial use of the private collections of New Orleans residents and her interviews with them.