For the well read

Many famous and not-so-famous writers have been drawn to New Orleans: William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Anne Rice to name a few. Two recently published books showcase that history almost like travel guides for the bibliophile.

Susan Larson
Originally published in 1999, Larson’s book has been expanded and updated to reflect the current literary climate. While many things have changed in those 14 years, Larson notes that the local literary culture, “built on paper … proves to be one of the most durable culture treasures that our city offers the rest of the world.” Narrow and tall in the way of tour guides, this book—published by LSU Press—offers literary tourists a comprehensive reference for their experience in the Crescent City. Larson, the long-time book editor at The Times-Picayune, now hosts WWNO’s The Reading Life. lsupress.org

Angela Carll
This title celebrates local architecture as much as New Orleans’ literary history, with chapters featuring illustrations by Lloyd L. Sensat Jr. and architect Eugene Cizek. Inspired in part by Larson’s Booklover’s Guide to New Orleans, Where Writers Wrote in New Orleans began as a French Quarter tour. The book later expanded to cover the whole city. Carll, a real estate editor for The Times-Picayune, and Sensat have both been licensed New Orleans tour guides. While deeply entrenched in the city’s architectural and literary past, Carll anticipates in her author’s note a second edition that can include more writers publishing today. margaretmedia.com

Wendy Rodrigue
UL Press has a history of publishing books that are beautiful art objects themselves. This one, based on Wendy Rodrigue’s blog Musings of an Artist’s Wife, is no exception. A memoir of both Wendy and her husband, George Rodrigue, it’s about their lives separate and together and offers stories behind George’s most famous paintings. Trained as an art historian and critic, Wendy is in a unique position: Her roles as the artist’s wife, archivist and muse allow readers intimate access to both the man and his art. All the proceeds from this book benefit the George Rodrigue Foundation’s arts in education programs. ulpress.org