Jeanne DeLavigne (–1962)

Jeanne de Lavigne’s Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans is a classic of Louisiana literature. Published in 1946, this book contains imaginative etchings by artist Charles Whitfield Richards (1906-1992) that illustrate de Lavigne’s macabre stories.

The stories are drawn from Louisiana folklore, researched by de Lavigne over many years. They are well-written and suspenseful. But this is not a book that most people would want to read in one sitting; it will be better-appreciated if read a story or two at a time.

The original 1946 publication is a little difficult to find, and expensive. But in 2013, Louisiana State University Press issued a re-print version with a new forward by Frand de Caro. It was a welcome re-invigoration of this New Orleans classic. It’s definitely worth acquiring a copy.… (plus d'informations)

First published in 1946, Jeanne deLavigne's excellent "Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans" fell out of print for a long while. In 2013, the Louisiana State University Press remedied that with a new edition, including a foreword by folklorist and LSU Professor Emeritus of English Frank de Caro. As de Caro accurately says of the 40 stories collected in this book, deLavigne "...gave her legends a literary twist, and the tales in [the book] read like literary stories." All of these genuinely eerie (and allegedly true) ghost stories brim with fully developed characters, intricate plots, intimate settings, and great attention to historical detail. The world is full of books of ghost stories, but very few of them are well-written enough to qualify as literature. This one does. (Note: Like all art, this book is a product of its place and time -- readers offended by occasional racial or ethnic slurs might not enjoy this collection.)… (plus d'informations)

My husband is more than a little surprised that I was reading a book of stories, since I can't even watch commercials for scary movies. However, reading them is a whole different experience and this is a delightful book.

This book was published in 1946 originally. The author is a native of New Orleans and did her research with old newspaper clippings, diaries, and interviews. Are the stories all true? Not likely. Some are quite obscure and she says in her opening note that it's possible that no one in the city had heard more than one or two of the stories in their entirety before she published this book. The stories read like stories, with dialogue from the early 1800's and containing details that she could never have verified. These are not accounts of ghost sightings. The author was a writer, not a journalist, and it makes the book so much fun to read. I don't care if they're true or not, honestly- I just like a good story.… (plus d'informations)