Described in an 1835 bill of sale as une belle maison, the Lombard plantation house is a rare survivor. Built in the early nineteenth century as a West Indian-style residence, it was the focal point of a large plantation that stretched deep into the cypress swamps of what is now New Orleans's Bywater neighborhood. Featuring the best Norman trussing in North America, it was one of many plantations homes and grand residences that lined the Mississippi downriver from the French Quarter. A working farm until the 1800s, its lands were eventually absorbed into the expanding city. After years of prosperity, the entire area of the Ninth Ward, now known as Bywater, sank into poverty and neglect. This is the story of the rise, fall, and eventual resurrection of one of America's finest extant examples of West Indian Creole architecture and of the entire neighborhood of which it is an anchor. Through meticulous study of archives and archeology, the author presents fascinating insights on how residents of this working plantation actually lived. With concrete evidence, the author covers everything from cooking and cuisine to laundering and gardening. It is a story about buildings but also about people. Because pre-Civil War US censuses never listed more than five enslaved persons, all of whom worked in the house, the plantation appears to have depended mainly on hired labor, both African American and Irish. Eventually these groups came to populate the new neighborhood, along with immigrants from Germany, and then by new migrants from the countryside. This book brings together artist John James Audubon; architect of the U.S. capital, Benjamin Henry Latrobe; Lee Harvey Oswald; and Fats Domino in an engrossing story, linking these and other colorful figures to the history of a beautiful, historic home in New Orleans. Profusely illustrated with heretofore unidentified historic photographs and plans, and with color images by master architectural photographer Robert S. Brantley, this book will equally interest inquisitive tourists and long-term residents of the Gulf South, historic preservationists, and urbanists in search of insights on successful redevelopment, architecture and history buffs, and enthusiasts of one of America's most beloved and storied cities.

Includes section "Reviews".

Tout le monde a ses secrets, mais à quel prix? Lorsque l’auteur Caroll Lesage a retrouvé sa demi-sœur, aucun d’eux ne pouvait prédire les secrets qu’ils allaient déterrer ensemble sur leur père. Des amours secrètes aux triangles amoureux, en passant par l’adoption et la bigamie, plus ils creusent l’histoire de leur famille, plus les mystères font surface. Secrets d’un père insaisissable est à la fois un livre de souvenirs et un ouvrage de généalogie sur la quête d’un fils pour découvrir la vérité sur son père. Caroll Lesage aborde avec courage des sujets difficiles, tels que l’abus sexuel, le viol et l’orientation sexuelle. Encouragé par ses proches à partager son histoire dans toute sa complexité, M. Lesage espère ainsi montrer à d’autres personnes qu’elles ne sont pas les seules à vivre ce genre d’épreuves et qu’il est possible de s’affranchir de ses propres difficultés familiales. Il démontre les pouvoirs du pardon et de la compassion, même lorsqu’on découvre l’ampleur des secrets. Souvent ces secrets sont plus complexes qu’il n’y paraît même si, à l’origine, ils ont été gardés sans malice. Les lecteurs ayant un intérêt pour les drames familiaux prendront plaisir à percer les secrets les plus lourds dans ce récit captivant et à découvrir les sacrifices qu’un père est prêt à faire pour protéger sa famille.

Learn French in 4 Simple Steps. With Living Language Complete French: The Basics, you’ll start by learning words, and then you’ll progress to phrases, sentences, and conversations. This simple four-step building block approach will have you speaking with confidence right from the beginning, and you’ll be able to learn gradually and effectively. If you’re confident in your pronunciation, then this coursebook includes everything you need - vocabulary, grammar, culture, and practice. But you can also use this book along with the four hours of recordings included in the Living Language Complete French: The Basics compact disc package, which also includes a handy learner’s dictionary. This comprehensive coursebook includes: •40 step-by-step lessons •Practical vocabulary and authentic everyday usage •Simple explanations and plenty of examples •Supplemental sections, including e-mail and internet resources •A comprehensive grammar reference section