Louisiana Books

In CATCHING LIGHT, Kathryn Stripling Byer weaves yet again her own brand of poetic magic. Poems in the voice of an aging woman named Evelyn take us into the life and imagination of a woman who refuses to give up, refuses to let go of life. In lyrics with delicate yet strong movement and closure, she gathers her reader into the web that only language well used can weave. Byer continues to grow as a poet, and I look forward to future volumes. The terms Southern and Appalachian no longer apply to such work; it has moved beyond the regional and into a realm accessible to anyone who cares about poetry, regardless of its regional roots. All good poems begin in the particulars of their worlds, of course, but too often poems termed regional, especially Southern or Appalachian, are met with condescension from the more entlighted literati in NYC, Provincetown, and else where. Byer's poems rebuke such a constricted view of American poetry.

When the Southeastern Bookseller's Association selected this book for their 2002 Book of the Year in Poetry, they knew what they were doing. Kathryn Stripling Byer's fourth book of poetry takes on the subject of a woman's old age, her last days, and how she reacts to them. By turns stark, witty, lyrical, elegiac, these poems seem determined to rise to the challenge issued by Eavan Boland in several of her poems and essays that writing about an aging woman is difficult if not downright impossible in the Western poetic tradition. In the voice of a woman by the name of Evelyn, and growing out of a collaboration with photographer Louanne Watley, whose Evelyn Series illuminated the last days of an eccentric old woman, these poems take the reader into Evelyn's interior world, her fears, her sexuality, her memories. It's quite a journey and one well worth taking, not only for its insights but also for the beauty and clarity of its poetry.

Love where it takes you. Family is as important as the tantilizing flavors of these recipes. A must have for the Southern Cook. Especially liked Aunt Cindy's Sweet Potatoes. YUM!

Charlote brings her personality into this talented collection of receipe's for folks that have a taste for spicy flavors.

I made the Chicken and Sausage gumbo the other day, and WOW! and amazing mix of flavors. Gumbo is not as hard to cook as some people make it out to be.

I can personally attest to her talents of well thought out receipes. Try it out for yourself.

This book is a must read. A refreshing glimpse into the adventures of a Western Theater Quartermaster. Obviously intense and very thorough research was done editing these memoirs. Dr. Bergeron is indeed a premier Civil War historian.

Grisamore's memoir is an important source of information on the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the Civil War. Because he was a quartermaster, his story is a unique one because few quartermaster officers left memoirs. The book is full of humor as well as little known episodes of the war. Grisamore was a native of Indiana but felt strongly enough about the Confederate war effort to join the army and risk his life.

This is a wonderful publication showing Clementine Hunter's wonderful paintings of Southern black people's lives in the early part of the 20th century. I was very happy to find it still available.

It takes you to an unknown world...

Great book that expresses the flavor and feelings of a high school student in New Orleans.

The book is in goon condition and shipped to me in an adequate amount of time. Thanks!

This single volume, though hefty, is comprehensive. It has references from A-Z of everything--theme, genre, place, person, or movement--related to the South. If you are curious about the South, the development of Southern Literature, or the history of the region, it's in this book. You will be amazed at the wealth of information contained in this reference.

The Companion is a massive (1000+ pp)encyclopaedic approach to Southern literature (and culture, though The Companion makes no explicit claims toward tackling that subject). It has articles on people and works among other things, each authored by a wide variety of modern scholars. There is a wonderful index and a table of contents that arranges entries by groups (including Themes, Language, Religion, Music, etc.). The Companion is as current as any book of this type can be; thus, while the Companion contains entries on the Internet and some contemporary authors, both of these entries are destined to be somewhat dated even before the book hit the presses. It is a useful volume for students of Southern Literature, though, as with any encyclopedia, it must be considered as first-stop. The Companion refers readers to other texts and doesn't pretend to exhaust the subject matter of any of its entries. The Companion should also find favor with teachers who include (or want to include) Southern authors in their classrooms. The Companion provides instructors with quick reference contexts for many works that might profitably be included in a classroom.

I was amazed at how helpful a guidebook can be! Having this book, made my trip to the Gulf South so much more enjoyable and meaningful. Not only does Ms. Bultman obviously know and understand this part of the country, but her enormously entertaining writting make the book a joy to read. I enjoyed the book so much that I am continueing to read it even after I returned home!

I picked up the new Compass American Guide: Gulf South to plan a trip to a warmer climate. Outside the snow was blowing, but I was swept up in the fun and informative narrative by Ms. Bultman and associates. I definately plan a Mardi Gras visit to New Orleans for next year, and D. Fran Morley's "Confessions of a Fairhope Transplant" made me want to pack up and move to her charming little town tomorrow! For now I'll have to settle for a visit but the hard part will be chosing a spot. Natchez and the River Road? Cajun country? Fairhope? From a practical point of view, the book's restaurant and hotel/motel listings are quite complete, and I love the fact that it really tells it like it is in regard to places NOT to visit. The Compass Guides are called "insider's guides," and that's really true here. It's like getting great tips from old friends who know a place inside and out.

I have been so delighted to find Rossetti's poetry. It is rare and delicious, I would recommend that anyone who loves poetry read it!

I have been so delighted to find Rossetti's poetry. It is rare and delicious, I would recommend that anyone who loves poetry read it!

This is a most worthy men-at-arms series; like the book's description says, it shows the much more colorful side to the uniforms of the Confederate Army. One man depicted in the color plates for Volume One that I found particularly interesting was a soldier in the Union Light Infantry, a SC unit based on the British Black Watch (42nd Royal Highlanders).
The plates are pretty much the highlight of this series, and show realistic looking soldiers surrounded by beautiful women and scenery, and baring all their various weapons. The text, nonetheless, reveals numerous interesting details. This is an excellent source on the uniforms and appearances of the soldiers of the Confederacy.

Osprey Publishing has issued Volume 5 of their popular book, The Confederate Army 1861-65. A part of their sprawling Men-at-Arms series (this is book #441 in that series), this one covers the uniforms and arms of troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. Written by Ron Field and lavishly illustrated with Richard Hook's watercolors, this book is a worthy addition to the Osprey family. Retailing for $15.95 here in the USA ($21 in Canada), the book has 48 pages, nearly all of them with period photographs or full color drawings.

The new book focuses on each state's antebellum militia and the hastily organized volunteer regiments that were pressed into Confederate service in the initial stages of the war. Using contemporary newspaper accounts, letters, state and local records, and early photographs, Ron Field presents an extensive array of early war military units, their uniforms and accoutrements, drawing heavily upon primary descriptions. He also takes a cursory, but interesting look at how the transition occurred from locally supplied clothing and equipment (which often varied widely from company to company) to state-issued regulation Confederate uniforms, particularly in North Carolina, where, by the end of the war, the term "ragged Rebel" would be made obsolete from the vast stores of supplies held by the state.



Field starts with Tennessee, looking at the outfitting of the militia and early volunteers in 1861, and examines the role various ladies aid societies played in clothing the soldiers of the Volunteer State. He then discusses the role of the state's Military and Financial Board in taking over the administration and logistics of supplying the troops. Field then shifts his focus to North Carolina, again discussing and characterizing the antebellum militia and contrasting them to how the state later took charge and made its forces appear more uniform in appearance. He also briefly compares winter clothing to summer issue for troops from both states.



The book includes a select bibliography for readers wanting to dive a little deeper into the outfitting of Confederate troops from Tennessee and North Carolina. The index is comprehensive, as is the discussion that accompanies the Richard Hook's illustrations. All in all, The Confederate Army 1861-85 (5) Tennessee and North Carolina (ISBN: 9781846031878) maintains the tradition of excellence we have come to expect from Osprey, and is well worth the modest investment.

Stand Watie's confederate Cherokees are widely known and little importance is generally attached to the particular story of John Drew's 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles. Thanks to Craig Gaines, the gap is filled. His book is precise, wonderfully detailed and his sources are remarkable. Henceforth, Craig Gaines' book is a must for all the buffs of the Civil War in Indian Territory.
Serge Noirsain, writer and historian, Brussels-Belgium.

Being of Cherokee decent and having been raised in the heart of the Cherokee nation, I was immediately intrigued when I saw this title. The mystery of the internal conflicts and relations within the Cherokee Nation has been an interest of mine ever since I was a child hearing the oral stories. The stories were confusing then, and after reading Gaines' book, I now have a better grasp of the situation that was responsible for tearing apart the land I was reared-in and the people who were rearing me. Gaines does an excellent job of researching a subject that has very few sources available, and his writing style is smooth and concise. This is a very dense book; the information is packed in tightly. However, for a book on regimental history, I found it an easy read full of insight into a nation that to this day is still divided on issues that plagued them before the Civil War.