Louisiana Rambles

Exploring America's Cajun and Creole Heartland

Ian McNulty

Silver Medal 2011, Society of American Travel Writers Travel Book Award

Narrated by Ben Collins

Available from Audible

Book published by University Press of Mississippi

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.

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.

REVIEWS:

“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.”

—Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of The Aspen Institute in Denver and former president and CEO of CNN