Old Louisiana

by Lyle Saxon

This fascinating volume covers Louisiana's history, beginning with the early French and Spanish settlers through slavery and beyond.

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Lyle Saxon was a journalist and author best known for his work with The Times-Picayune and his leadership of the Louisiana WPA Writers' Project during the 1930s. Born in 1891, likely in either Baton Rouge or Washington State, Saxon was raised in Baton Rouge and later became a central literary figure in New Orleans. He lived in the French Quarter, where his home became a gathering place for writers like William Faulkner and Sherwood Anderson. His grandmother, Elizabeth Lyle Saxon, was a noted suffragette and poet.
Saxon authored several notable books exploring Louisiana's culture and history. Among these are Fabulous New Orleans, Old Louisiana, and Gumbo Ya-Ya, a celebrated collection of Louisiana folktales. He also wrote novels including Lafitte the Pirate, which inspired Cecil B. DeMille's film The Buccaneer, and Children of Strangers, set among Creole communities along the Cane River. His book The Friends of Joe Gilmore reflects his personal relationship with his Black valet.
Saxon embraced New Orleans traditions, especially Mardi Gras, participating with theatrical flair. Openly gay within artistic circles, he led a vibrant social life that intertwined with his literary pursuits. He died in 1946 and is buried in Baton Rouge.

Reviews

[Gregory]

Can't get enough of Louisiana and Saxon.

[Penelope Linton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read and beautifully illustrated I must add. I was taken away to the old plantations in Louisiana and was fascinated by the diary of a young Mr. Lestant Prudhomme which is several chapters in the book. I found this part the most interesting because I got a glimpse into the life of a young wealthy son of a plantation owner. I was so enthralled with his eloquence, that sometimes it read like poetry. He painted a well documented life of the endless visiting of relatives, hunting, parties , river boats, and even the weather . In between all of this gay life, he was studying to be a lawyer. At one point his father decided that he is not progressing as she should in his studies and sends him away so he can concentrate . ( Later on in the book, Mr Saxon, reveals that he never did become a lawyer) The description of his parting from his family is filled with such sorrow and tears and he is really only moving to a town 15 miles away, as the author pointed out. The book is dotted with many illustrations of the old plantations. He takes the reader on a tour of these beauties along River Road and at times, suggests that you look at illustration of said structure. He also befriended an elderly lady who lived on one these plantations and through her letters we get stories about living on plantation back in the day. More over, he writes a narrative on how the Negroes on plantation spend New Year's and Christmas Day on plantation.
Also, several stories about the plantation families was very interesting reading! Especially, one of the plantion owners may or may not be the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's, "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Another truly macabre story is about Pauline the slave who, tortures her mistress and her mistress'children. How this transpired is shocking ! He goes into detail on this bizarre story.
As always, my interest in the author is so piqued. I researched Mr Saxon. "Mr. New Orleans",as he was called and found him to be a very important champion in saving the French Quarter. He and an artist friend formed "The Arts and Crafts Club" in the early part of the 1900's encouraging artists to come New Orleans' French Quater after witnessing the Opera House go up in flames, the third structure of historic importance, to the horror of Saxon ad artist friend. They decided that the area should be preserved. He writes stories and vignettes about the area, and authors and artists flock to the Vieux Carre and the French Quarter became " a little Paris". And that part of town became bohemian and a mecca for artists as it is still today.

After having finished reading, "Old Louisiana", I can't wait to read , "Old New Orleans". Thank you Heather for this wonderful book!

[Jennifer]

This book was so good--but it made me awfully homesick!