Louisiana Books

Like his companion book, Life of Johnny Reb, this book looks at how soldiers were recruited and kept by the Army. The Union had the advantage of an army already in being but its expansion to meet its wartime needs changed the very nature of the Federal Army. This is a fine book and one that any real Civil War buff should have.

Just as informative about the life of the Common Soldierwho served in the Northern ranks as his book The Life of Johnny Reb is of the soldier who apposed him thoughcleary better developed by the author's experience.

Very informative. Very well written.

A must have for anyone interested in the Civil War.

The late Bell Wiley had an advantage that many researchers of the Civil War did not have: FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS FROM THE VETERANS THEMSELVES. Starting his research in the 1940's, Wiley was able to interview the aging veterans of the War. You can imagine what was going through these warriors minds as they recalled their past. Wiley also spent countless hours combing through letters, diaries, official documents and other papers to get his facts. Billy Yank tells the story of the Union soldiers as few have been able to capture. It covers more than just what the soldier wore, ate, used, etc. From his reasons for fighting, opinions of Lincoln, emancipation (pro AND con) officers, the Southern people, the topics are well covered. Reenactors of the conflict would benefit from this book. This is a gold mine of information for the "first person" impression. Even Southerners will gain insight into their former foes.

Bell Irvin Wiley seems to have been the first historian/writer to realize that the Civil War was not just about Lee, Pickett, Grant or Stuart or any of the other guys with stars on their shoulders. The real truth about what happened on those battlefields had to do with the guys in the tattered uniforms and the rotted shoes, trying to fight with defective rifles.
As in his companion book, "The Life of Johnny Reb", "The Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union" is an unflinching look at the constant struggles of a Union soldier. This is a very sobering account, and some of the letters the soldiers wrote home are nothing short of heartbreaking. This is a truly admirable account of men who were more than common soldiers. I believe they were really common heroes.

Bell Irvin Wiley (1906-1980) enjoyed a distinguished career as a professor at the University of Mississippi and Emory University and as the author or editor of over 20 books on the Civil War. His "The Life of Billy Yank: the Common Soldier of the Union" (1952) is, together with its companion volume "The Life of Johnny Reb, the Common Soldier of the Confederacy (1943), Wiley's best-known work. It presents an outstanding history of the day-to-day life of the soldier in the Union Army.

As Wiley stated in the preface to the book, his focus was "social rather than military". The book offers little of the military history of the various Civil War campaigns and little of the political aspects of the War. Rather, Wiley discusses soldering in the Union Army in all its detail and drudgery. It is an indispensable source for those wishing to understand the Civil War. The book would be of interest as well to reenactors wishing to get inside and recapture life in a Civil War Army.

The book is well-researched and documented. It draws upon the letters and diaries of innumerable Union soldiers, both published and unpublished and on other first-hand accounts. Much of the discussion is anecdotal, but Wiley makes good use of census and statistical data as well. The book is clearly written with an obvious empathy for the life of the Civil War soldier. The book leads the reader beyond its specific subject and encourages reflection of the Civil War, its terrible human cost, and its continuing importance to our country.

Wiley begins with a discussion of the recruitment process into the Union Army following the attack on Fort Sumter. The book gives a good picture of the complex relationship between state militia units, the regular army, the volunteers and the draftees -- the various units that uneasily combined to form the Union army. Bell discusses -- in a subject that continues to fascinate historians -- the motivations of the soldiers who served in the conflict. In particular, he discusses the Emancipation Proclamation and considers the extent to which Emancipation was or became a goal for a large number of Union troops. Wiley sees the many sides of this question, and the issue remains one that is vigorously discussed.

The book describes well the rigors of training and camp life, the diseases and unhealthy living conditions which plagued the army, the boredom and enforced routines, the bad food, temptations to vice, and experience of combat. There is excellent material in the book on the organization of the Union Army. Much of the material in Wiley's study is either presupposed or otherwise not covered in other well-known studies of the military of political history of the War. The book considers the morale and fighting spirit of the men and how it varied with the fortunes of war and with the support of people at home. Again, anticipating more recent studies, Wiley discusses the ambiguous, complicated relationships that developed during the War between the Union troops and their enemies in gray. This relationship, and the instances of fraternization during the midst of a total conflict, presaged the way for reconciliation, at long last, at the conclusion of the conflict. There is a brief discussion in the book of women soldiers who enlisted in the Union army and sometimes managed to avoid detection. This subject too has received much recent attention and it is interesting to see Wiley deal with it in his early account. The book ends with reflections on the way in which the Civil War helped forged the United States into a nation.

This is a study that wears its age well. It will bring the reader face-to-face with the life of the Union soldier during our nation's greatest combat.

A absolute page turner. One cannot even imagine what these people went through, and while you're reading, you make mental notes... must get an axe... get emergency supplies ready... a life jacket... must learn to swim... must heed storm warnings... It is mostly the stories of the heros and rescuers, who risked life and self to save people. It's as much as an attempt to understand the experience as it is a lesson in survival, and tribute to the many who came through when our government did not. Definitely a must read.

if your from st. bernard this book is a must. my home was in chalmette i lost everything, like the rest of the pople in st. bernard. my family ran and we have alot of questions and this book helped to put things in focus for us. this book is great. brenda chatelain

Being from St.Bernard Parish, I found this book to be engrossing. Reading about the triumphs and tragedys of regular citizens, and the horrors of the flooding waters reveals the disastrous consequences of this now-famous storm.

If you would really like to know what happened to the people who were trapped in their homes during Hurricane Katrina, this book will give you first hand experience of the situation they were in. St. Bernard Parish borders on Orleans Parish and received direct hit of the eye of the storm and its massive title surge. It's not a book to take lightly. You will also see how they were left to save themselves with little help from outside sources. I have family who live in St. Bernard and were missing for several days. Their lives have been changed forever. The damage of this storm was not only in property but far more destructive to their lives. They not only fought for their own lives but for ever person they encountered. The residence of St. Bernard Parish rose to the challenge in spite of the situation. I can only hope I would have the courage and fortitude these people showed in the largest national disaster in the United States. A MUST READ to truly know what happened.

I am from Chalmette and I met Mikel and I have to say I bought four books in oneday!!! I gave them to family members they loved them too. I have enjoyed this book I cried and I can really say that this book tells you all about the forgotten parish St.Bernard. Everyone that wants to know about our wonderful parish should read this book. Donna from Chalmette/Meraux Now!!!!

What a perfect baby gift in support of a particular school. The Auburn parents thought it was great!!!

For your little Auburn Tiger this is the perfect book. It is sturdy and captures the AU life that you want your little one to treasure!

What an awesome book! It's a fantastic start to get my son prepared for his first year at UCLA come Fall 2024! :-)

A nice idea for a shower or new baby gift for a fellow alumnus, and a great way to start brainwashing your own child from the beginning.

I bought this for my friend's two year old daughter - we are both UW-Madison alums living in Seattle. The book has lots of photographs of various things around campus, including lessons on colors and numbers using Wisconsin-related items. Her daughter carries it around constantly saying "Bucky Badger!" and also lobes the picture of the hockey team! It is a great book for us to share our memories of Madison with her, even though we live so far away. :)

Octavia's Fried Chicken is the best, most foolproof fried chicken in the world. Octavia: whereever you are out there, thanks for making me EXTREMELY popular!

Being born & raised in Southwest Louisiana, I learned how to cook from generations before me. This cook book is the closest thing to real Southwest Louisiana food. I have had my copy for numerous years and have worn it out but continue to use it. I give this book as a gift on every occasion that is appropriate (& some that are not). This is the only book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in Cajun food. It's awesome! Karen - Lake Charles, Louisiana transplanted to Omaha, Nebraska.

I've had (earlier printing - plastic bound) version of this cook book for at least 25 years. I absolutely love it. Unfortunately, after much use the binding broke and my cook book was a total mess, although I still frequently used it. I actually went online to order one for my new daughter-in-law and was delighted to see it in hard cover. So, I bought four (my daughter-in-law, my daughter, one as a gift for a friend and another for myself). I am delighted with the quality of this cook book. I come from a long line of great cajun cooks (my mom and both sister also have the cook book). I've eaten cajun food all of my life. These recipes are delicious, truly cajun and easy to prepare. The informative welcome to each section is a delightful extra. I would strongly recommend this cook book for anyone who enjoys cooking delicious meals. I will purchase them again for gifts for friends and family.

I think every single woman I know has this cookbook. It's as if you get one after a certain age as a "right of passage" or something in this town. I have this cookbook, my mother has it and my Grandmother had it. We have never ran across a recipe in this book that was not great! Buy it! You will NOT be disappointed.

I have had this cookbook for many years. I first purchased it back in 1977, and it is without a doubt the best in authentic Cajun cooking. My original Pirate's Pantry finally fell apart from many years of use; but, although I recently replaced it, I still have my old original stuffed into a manila envelope. I love this cookbook!!!

This was in my opinion, the best book in the series. The setting is absolutely captivating and it makes the whole story take on an interesting, refreshing air. For me as a Christian, the part with the voodoo priestess was very thought provoking. The part also showed that Shiloh still had some major weaknesses and supports Cheney's later reasons for keeping her distance from him in the area of romance. The aunts were well-written, lovable and sometimes humorous characters. You won't want to miss the funny part later on in the book that invloves Shiloh and hairpins.

Great story:ghosts, mystery, romance. However, an interpreter would be nice. Or even a footnote translation.

This book introduces several new characters that you'll get to know as well as the main characters in the 4 previous books. It takes place at a Louisiana plantation owned by Cheney's great-aunts Marye and Elyse.

Aunt Elyse is sometimes absent-minded, but is funny and loveable. Aunt Marye, in contrast, seems overly strict, but deep down loves her visiting relatives and their friends. The lovestruck Chloe, a daughter of Aunt Elyse and Aunt Marye's butler and cook, chases after Shiloh so openly that I wanted to smack her, but she gets what she deserves in the end, especially when they discover she's helping the voodoo group trying to take over the plantation.

This is an excellent series and I enjoyed this book especially. The chapter where the family prepares to "fight against the powers and pricipalities" was well written, showing the importance of faith and honesty. I am anxiously awaiting #8, what will happen between Cheney and Shilo next? If you like this book check out "The Covenant of Love", also by Gilbert Morris.

I read this book and finished in 2 days! I loved it. My sister gave me #6 and I finished it in 3 days. I had to buy #7 (my favorite) and loved it also. This is a great series. I recommend this to almost anybody.

The recipes are easy to follow and execute. The personal comments are heartwarming. The chocolate cake recipe alone is worth the price of admission -- it's a winner and so is the book!

I am dazzled by the variety and style of the recipes.

The book is easy to follow and the results are astounding. From onion sandwiches to Corn Bisque, Chocolate Cake to Classic meat dishes with a flair. This book is a wonderful departure from the standard theme cookbooks we are all so familiar with.

Linda Larson

The book is delightful to read. The relative who collected the recipies and wrote so eloquently about his uncle and his recipies shows a true flair for entertaining the reader with amusing and helpful referances about how to "bend the rules" of cooking like the pro's so often do to achive unique and savory foods.

He has given us the true secrets of cooking.

The recipies are very imaginative and elegant without being pretentious. How this chef could put together such a collection of diverse and universal ingredients shows a true love of food and the art of cooking.

I recieved a copy of this cookbook for my birthday last month. Talk about a gift that keeps giving. I am able to find a delicious recipie for almost any ocassion. Dinner, brunch, picnics, or special events. The easy going instuctions are trustworthy. ( I don't feel I have to try the recipie before an event.) Secrets of a New Orleans Chef has given me compliments from those I've cooked for I never would have expected.Two friends have requested the name of the book for purchase. One of them is a chef in a local Italian restaurant. He said "my" duck was unbelievable.

I highly recoomend this book for amatures and gourmets alike.

Nicole Bullock

I worked with Chef Tom at the Upperline. I went from New Orleans to cook in the South Pacific and Aspen. Chef Tom's way of doing things is absolutely classic. He had a way of settling on and emphasizing classic combinations of flavour that I have never seen matched; it was instinctive. After knowing Tom I have never met anyone else worthy of the title "chef". His was a flawless palate, as broad as it was deep. It amuses me to see TV chefs lionized in the media when Tom did his work so well with no applause. Chef Tom said once that there is a difference between cookbooks and recipe books; THIS is a cookbook.

"Mary H. Manhein is the author of The Bone Lady: Life as a Forensic Anthropologist.
The director of the Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory at Louisiana State University and a deputy coroner for East Baton Rouge Parish, she lives in Baton Rouge with her husband."
[from the book of the back flap']

"Trail of Bone WILL FEED THE PUBLIC APPENTITE for things forensic but also educate about how the scientific investigative process works."
--- Douglas H. Ubelaker, author of Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook
[from the book of the back jacket]

This book is very well written. The author is very good at telling stories. The cases she picked for this book were interesting to read about.

Manhein gives an outstanding look at what is involved in being a forensic anthropologist. The book is full of inspiring stories about lost souls that finally find their way home, as a result of hard work by the police and Manhein's team of experts.
Anyone interested in the field of forensic anthropology will enjoy this book. It gives an accurate look at the skill, dedication and devotion needed to be a forensic anthropologist.
I highly recommend this book as a great read and good addition to anyone's bookshelf.

Mary Manhein's "Trail of Bones" is a wonderful book that offers practical insight into the lives of real people in law enforcement, victims, evidence and everything in between. Mary does not have to be overly descriptive in her accounts because the importance relies on the the truth and not some sensationalized version of truth. I like to think that captivating people are writing their own stories. She seems to care a great deal about the effect her work has on others. She does not try to impress us with terminology that is purely mechanical. I think this creates greater credibility to her work. She is someone who really inspires others like me in law enforement to never stop caring about the victims.

This book was well written. Ms. Manhein always shows great dignity to a body when she is describing her work. She also shows great compassion for the family members of any victim. I love the type of work that she does. She gives credit where credit is due and inspires her helpers to the highest level, while expecting them to perform there. I hope she will write more books with such compassion. An Avid Reader.

Had this book recommended to me over two years ago; however, just got around to reading it. It is so well written and provides a perspective that is so clear and truthful. Anyone who is interested in the historical perspective of the Deep South and the attitudes which prevail (ed) should read this book. AWESOME!! INSPIRING!!

I applaud Ms. Scott for compiling her father's interviews and writing this book, which has enormous historical significance. It is customary to read and hear about the heavy weights in the struggle for civil rights, such as Martin Luther King and Booker T. Washington. However, this book serves as a reminder that grass roots workers like John H. Scott represented pivotal forces in helping to bring about justice for African Americans. As a South Carolinian, I tend to read with greater frequency about historical events of places like Charleston and Savannah and Atlanta, GA. Reading about Louisiana broadened my knowledge and I was able to garner a history lesson from nearly every page.

It is unbelievable how steadfast John Scott and others were in fighting simply to be able to vote. Equally unbelievable are all of the atrocities perpetuated against them. But they persevered, and the story is very well told.

At a recent book signing in Charleston, SC, Ms. Scott told me that she is writing another book. I look forward to it.

The late John H. Scott and his daughter Cleo Scott provide a griping account of the life and experiences of a civil rights pioneer. The book makes something as bland as history, something engaging and entertaining. I learned a great deal from reading this book and enjoyed every minute. Looking forward the movie...

This book is the testament of a determined person who has raised the consciousness of a parish. He along with others refused to be refused a right that many of us take for granted today. From the Scott Scholarship to the visits Cleo Brown makes to Louisiana (thank you Tallulah for bringing her October 2003!), John H. Scott lives on. His words ring out pride in yourself and hope for your community. I am challenged to not let his and others' efforts go in vain. This book, which certainly has a place in (a certain book club), should be read by every student in the Delta area. They should know that great people can come from humble beginnings. Thank you John H. Scott Memorial fund for helping me through school and thank you Cleo Brown for compiling this book to help me through life.

I just finished this book and am so glad and elated that Cleo Scott Brown decided to document her father's story.

My great uncle is Francis Joseph Atlas, Sr., the other man who testified with Reverend Scott as well as the one who endured financial hardship just because he wanted to vote. My family has been in East Carroll Parish for centuries, and through this book, I have learned a ton of information that I did not have available to me. It also helps me a lot with my genealogical project.

This book was written wonderfully; there were many times I couldn't put it down because I just had to know what was going to happen next! I also enjoyed the perspective from which the story was told, and the righteous spirit that Reverend Scott held onto, even when it was extremely hard to do so.

Every African American owes it to themselves to read this.

As a great grand neice of Dr Dreher and also through other relations, Ada, I cannot wait to read the account that this author has, as compared to what my family has told me, I have also slept in the house, babysitting, and let me tell you it is freaky know what happened where. (my moms sister owned it for a short while)

Ada Bonner LeBouef was my greataunt. She was also my father's godmother. The story is very true, as my mother tells it.

This a true story about the 1st woman excuted in the state of La. I am from this town and the story was told to me by my grandfather..It is a must read item

This is not a review, but I don't know any other forum for asking this question:

Does this book feature photographs of the key players?

As the great grandaughter of Ada and Jim LeBoeuf, I really appreciate the job done by the author. He presents the facts of the case. When reading the newspaper accounts during the time of the trial, it seemed as if the media was anxious to just print dirt and rumor which may have had a great deal to do with the outcome of the trial. Thank you Mr. Hargroder for a well written book on my family history.

I just loved reading this book. I loaned out my original copy, the person to whom I loaned it to moved away, so of course I bought another. It is one of my favorite books, made me wished I lived in New Orleans. Loved the descriptions of the place and although I am a little younger than the author, can relate to pre-Vatican II memories.

Almost Innocent is a rare find. I read this book several times and found something different to love every time. The second novel, Slow Poison is also another classic. Sheila Bosworth is an incredible storyteller. Her characters leap off the pages and become a part of your existance. Her writing flows as smoothly and certainly as a river. This would make a wonderful movie. Please Ms. Bosworth, more!

Sheila Bosworth has written a novel that is deserving of all the praise it has gotten from the other reviewers on this site. The characters are unforgettable and the story unfolds at such a perfect pace. We are introduced and then guided through this intimate family history by Clay-Lee the daughter who shares with the reader the perspective of a child as she describe events and people that are encountered by her parents and their immediate circle. The childhood recollections are structured in such a clever way that the reader anticipates and percieves motivations that are not clearly evident to the young Clay-Lee as narrator. Her "innocence" doesn't prevent us from seeing something more sinsister implicit in the scenes she witnesses.

In addition to the wonderful characters and plot the novel has the added quality of just dripping with New Orleans flavor. If you love the city and are familiar with the settings described the novel provides that added dimension of placing you right there.

After finishing this I immediately ordered Bosworth's other novel Slow Poison. She is a fabulous writer.

Almost Innocent is a rare find. I read this book several times and found something different to love every time. The second novel, Slow Poison is also another classic. Sheila Bosworth is an incredible storyteller. Her characters leap off the pages and become a part of your existance. Her writing flows as smoothly and certainly as a river. This would make a wonderful movie. Please Ms. Bosworth, more!

With this quote from Seneca, author Sheila Bosworth capsulizes the theme of innocence lost and nearly restored in "Almost Innocent," her first novel. Set in New Orleans and evocative of the sights and sounds that any native will recognize, Bosworth's novel traces the process by which the main character, Clay-Lee, attempts to reconstruct her mother's life through stories and memory. In the process of facing herself through her mother's life, Clay-Lee finds redemption for her perceived guilt in her mother's death. Her penitence restores her innocence and allows her to shape her own life and move on. This novel was both entertaining and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who has ever borne the guilt of a burdensome secret--or who simply wants a taste of New Orleans.