Mysterious Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen

New Orleans, LA: Hope Publications (1st Edition, 1956). Trade paperback, yellow wraps with orange and black titles and illustration on front cover, 96 pages. Text is clean and unmarked. Binding square and tight. Covers show rubbing along front fore edge and faded discoloration along spine and top edges, also a darker discoloration where each staple in the binding is located.

ABOUT THE BOOK: This is the classic book on legends, lore, and unvarnished truths surrounding New Orleans' most famous Voodoo mistress. It also features other tales from surrounding parishes of days long gone by, an illustrated guide to palm-reading, humorous asides, and over 30 drawings and images.

In addition to facts and folklore about Laveau—including revealing research into some debunked myths and unanswered questions—the book offers entertaining stories of her life and the people around the New Orleans area, such as:

• Lafayette's visit to New Orleans . . . and to Marie Laveau herself?
• How Marie Laveau turned hate into love for some wishful suitors
• How she earned her free house on St. Ann Street, and how her death made city newspapers go wild
• The man with two wives—in two languages—and therefore a roosterhead in his coatpocket
• Why New Orleans doorsteps are so clean
• How an utter idiot won the election for mayor of Burley Landing
• The proper use of gris gris, and the meaning of palm mountains and lines
• How an honest thief fooled an unsuspecting Yankee
• Why zombies are created to be used as farmhands

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A long-time chronicler of New Orleans' unique history, legends, and people, Raymond J. Martinez authored more than ten books that are still read today — to capture the lingering flavor of the city that care, and really time too, forgot. He is the author of such classic New Orleans books as 'Mysterious Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen,' 'Louisiana's Fabulous Foods,' and (with Jack D. L. Holmes) 'New Facts and Legends.'