Voodoo in New Orleans

I got this book to help me research for the story I'm writing; with so much garbage in popular media about voodoo and the sort, I wanted to figure out *what* I needed to unlearn and how I could create a more authentic experience in my story that doesn't rely on racist tropes and stereotypes. This is an old book, the way it's crafted makes it a bit hard (for me) to get through, but I'm munching on it in small bits at a time, and I still find it very interesting. I'm definitely happy to have this in my research resources.

I really don't understand the negative reviews of this book at all. Even Anne Rice recommends it and what better recommendation about voodoo history in New Orleans can you get than Anne Rice!?! Yes, the story is old, but it's a fantastic look of the smaller details of a hidden culture. I love New Orleans, and Tallant's book is well researched. Why do you think it's been reprinted since the 1940s. That's staying power, people. The history of Marie Lavaeu is worth the money. This is not a book to tell you how to practice voodoo or to give you a romanticized version of the religion. This is a book which tells the evolution of a special society within a very special city. Now excuse me while I go fetch another praline! Buy it. It's a great read. [From a person who knows and loves New Orleans and hoodoo too!]

Any book you see on Voodoo today, is either talking about Santeria or Haitian Voodou. Even the "New Orleans Voodoo Tarot" is mostly Voodoo from OUTSIDE of New Orleans. Here you will find the most mature research on Marie Laveau, which is worth the modest price of this book, alone. But you also get history that you will not find anywhere else. Tales of an entire lineage of conjure men and root doctors, the real heart of Louisiana Hoodoo. This book introduces you to men like Doctor Koku, Rooster, Papa Melon, Don Pedro and many others. If you want to see both sides of the New Orleans Voodoo coin, this is the only book that pulls back all the curtains of it's history.

"~This is an older book but you will find it's still very informative. There's plenty of stuff about Marie Laveau but they talk about other historical figures, too. The stuff on Dr. John, who you don't hear much about in other books, is particularly interesting."~ focusing on these days.

I really enjoyed this book although there were no "secrets of voodoo" revealed. Shows a lot of intriguing information about Marie Laveau and Doctor John. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of voodoo.