Louisiana Rambles
Louisiana Rambles
Exploring America's Cajun and Creole Heartland
After Hurricane Katrina laid bare the fragility and environmental peril of South Louisiana, author Ian McNulty set out on a series of daytrips to delve into the area’s diverse cultural landscapes. He explored communities staked up and down the Mississippi River, nestled into the teeming bayous, braced along the edge of the Gulf, and planted out on the golden prairie stretching to the west. Louisiana Rambles is his richly evocative guide to those journeys.
McNulty delivers an inimitable take on Cajun and Creole Louisiana—the siren call of zydeco dance halls pulsing in the country darkness; of crawfish “boiling points” and traditional country smokehouses; of Cajun jam sessions, where even wallflowers are compelled to dance; of equine gambits in the cradle of jockeys; and of fishing trips where anyone can land impressive catches. In South Louisiana, distilled European heritage, the African American experience, and modern southern exuberance mix with tumultuous history and fantastically fecund natural environments. The territories McNulty opens to the reader are arguably the nation’s most exotic and culturally distinct destinations.
McNulty quests for the heart of these places and people. Much more than a travel guide or collection of travel narratives, Louisiana Rambles is a seasoned writer’s witness to an epic locale that is very often joyous, sometimes heartbreaking, and always vital and stimulating. An extensive, chapter-by-chapter appendix filled with travel tips and notes from the road (or the bayou) will let visitors explore well beyond the beaten tourist paths and help Louisiana residents appreciate their own terrain in a new light.
Ian McNulty’s enthusiasm for all things Louisiana is infectious and invigorating, because it is so convincing. In Louisiana Rambles, McNulty portrays the medley of sounds, smells, sights, textures and tastes that arise from a land so rich in culture, heritage, landscape and lore, along with an overabundance of hardship. McNulty provides readers with every reason to visit Louisiana, as well as all the information needed to plan a memorable trip.
Ian McNulty captures the spirit and haunting beauty of southern Louisiana, from the bayous to the plantations. As he rambles along the back roads, he offers insights that delight those of us who grew up in the region. All of the tastes, sounds, sights, and smells come alive in this wonderful book.
Ian McNulty has been writing about the life and culture of New Orleans since 1999 as a reporter, columnist, and author. He is a staff writer for the New Orleans Advocate, where he focuses on the food culture of one of the world’s great food cities, and his radio commentaries air weekly on the New Orleans NPR affiliate. He is author of A Season of Night: New Orleans Life after Katrina, published by University Press of Mississippi.
