A New Orleans Voudou Priestess

The Legend and Reality of Marie Laveau

By: Carolyn Morrow Long

Narrated by: Ian Eugene Ryan

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Against the backdrop of 18th and 19th-century New Orleans, A New Orleans Voudou Priestess: The Legend and Reality of Marie Laveau disentangles the complex threads of the legend surrounding the famous Voudou priestess. According to mysterious, oft-told tales, Laveau was an extraordinary celebrity whose sorcery-fueled influence extended widely from slaves to upper-class whites. Some accounts claim that she led the "orgiastic" Voudou dances in Congo Square and on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, kept a giant snake named Zombi, and was the proprietress of an infamous house of assignation. Though legendary for an unusual combination of spiritual power, beauty, charisma, showmanship, intimidation, and shrewd business sense, she was also known for her kindness and charity, nursing yellow fever victims and ministering to condemned prisoners, and her devotion to the Roman Catholic Church. The true story of Marie Laveau, though considerably less flamboyant than the legend, is equally compelling.In separating verifiable fact from semi-truths and complete fabrication, Long explores the unique social, political, and legal setting in which the lives of Marie Laveau's African and European ancestors became intertwined. Changes in New Orleans engendered by French and Spanish rule, the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow segregation affected seven generations of Laveau's family, from enslaved great-grandparents of pure African blood to great-grandchildren who were legally classified as white. Simultaneously, Long examines the evolution of New Orleans Voudou, which until recently has been ignored by scholars. The book is published by University Press of Florida.

©2006 Carolyn Morrow Long (P)2011 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"There are few figures in New Orleans history as alluring as Marie Laveau... a figure who stood at the very nexus of religion, music, commerce, and history, and this fascinating, well-documented volume is the worthy result." ( New Orleans Times-Picayune)

Interesting book, problematic reader.

This book is a well-researched historical exploration of Marie Laveau, and deserves to be read. However, the choice of the reader worked against the text so much that I was unable to finish the book. I had read it in print form, and was eager to listen to it and reflect on the author's analyses of historical documents as I listened. The reader mispronounced many of the key names in the book, and the vocal quality was orotund and lethargic, making it very difficult to listen to. What made it even more frustrating was that the overall pitch of the reader's voice was perfect for the content. I only wish he had taken the time (or been given the opportunity) to practice the reading and to receive feedback on his oral interpretation from someone in a position to correct errors and problematic phrasing (like, perhaps, the author?).

More like reference book.

If you plan to write about Marie, this looks like a good resource.

Very clinical and just a statement of historic record rather than a deeper look at the woman.

The performance draws yawns over interest.

Voodoo Yawn!

What would have made A New Orleans Voudou Priestess better?

The book is full of great historical facts, records and information, however, it lacks all the soul. You would expect a story about the infamous Voodoo Priestess of New Orleans to be a little more engaging with it's material, but in the end, it reads more like an in-depth thesis project or research paper. While the book is geared as non-fiction, a tad bit more of a narrative feel would not be amiss.

Would you ever listen to anything by Carolyn Morrow Long again?

As long as Ian Eugene Ryan wasn't reading it.

What didn’t you like about Ian Eugene Ryan’s performance?

Mr. Ryan sounded as if he was falling asleep while reading the book, which was exactly what was happening to me as I listened to him. With all due respect, Ian Eugene Ryan sucked the life from the story. While the material was dry to begin with, Mr. Ryan turned it as bone dry as the corpses rotting in St. Louis Cemetery!

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A New Orleans Voudou Priestess?

If I could play editor, I would have hired someone with a bit more gusto to read the book. However, the structure of the book would also need a bit of tweaking and while I would keep the facts and records where they are, I'd be sure to make them more bearable to listen to. Many readers who would consider this of interest are looking for something to immerse themselves in the origins of this folklorish legend, but wouldn't be the type to stomach hours upon hours of dry, unimaginable, non-engaging fact!

interesting but dry

Very dry . I liked that it was factual, but the writing was so straight forward that I struggled to finish. At times it sounded like a recitation of public records.

Very well researched book

I found this book engrossing as a work of research and as a piece that reveals factually based information about Marie.

Indeed, the narrator butchered name traditional names and phrases but, at least a book like this exists in audio form.

ummmmmm...

This is more facts vs. fiction not necessarily a story about Marie, More so debunking her myth if you will... I don't know even a bit confusing, who were all the people? The best chapter is 8 Dr. John I would have loved to meet the guy. lol

Worth A Listen

I have seen a number of people complain about the narration. It’s not bad in my opinion. In fact, if you’d like it to be more energetic just speed it up a tad. Too easy! Many blessings.

Comprehensive look

Well researched and one of the better books about Marie Louveau
The narrator is great as well

What Story?

After the long, long list of ancestors & the like, I felt like I was listening to a new version of Genesis ! Then all the addresses, affiliations and other supposed facts. . . There still was no real "story." The narrator had little to no voice inflection and It took many tries to actually listen to this book. I kept hoping there would be something there to hold my interest. . . Did NOT happen.

Eh

I enjoyed this for the most part. The narrator’s constant mispronunciations are extremely annoying though.