Gumbo Ya-Ya

In these classic, fascinating, and often terrifying tales Mardi Gras Indians, Baby Dolls, the Zulu King, Loup Garou, and the headless horseman of Natchitoches all share the stage. Ghost stories from around the state mingle with the true horrors of figures like the infamous New Orleans Axeman. Readers learn stories of the Creoles and Cajuns, southern church traditions, Voodoo rituals, hexes, and charms. Gumbo Ya-Ya, 'everyone talks at once', expresses the tension between refinement and profanity, the sacred and the sensual which defines Louisiana culture to this day. This 70th Anniversary River Road Press unabridged edition's contents are wholly true to the 1945 original edition. First commissioned as a project of the Works Progress Administration Louisiana Writers Program, it has stood the test of time and is a book beloved by historians, locals, and visitors. Long-time fans of this book, as well as new audiences, will certainly enjoy this timeless look into an authentic and fascinating look at Louisiana in Gumbo Ya-Ya.