Join us for the discussion the second Wednesday of every month.   New Members are always welcome.  Purchase book in-store for a 20% discount.

Wednesday, March 13th

Wednesday, March 20th

6-7:30PM

Although few recognize the name of Bras-Coupé today, Bryan Wagner's riveting history The Life and Legend of Bras-Coupé illustrates why the saga of this notorious, escaped slave should be a touchstone among scholars and students of the African diaspora. After losing an arm in a pitched battle with the New Orleans police in the 1830s, Bras-Coupé hid for several years in a swamp near the city. During this time, law enforcement widely publicized their manhunt for him through newspapers, wanted posters, and other media. Messages from the mayor's office promoted a violent image of Bras-Coupé, casting him as the primary reason police needed the right to use deadly force in the course of their duties. After a former friend betrayed and killed the bandit in July 1837, local officials displayed Bras-Coupé's corpse in the Place d'Armes, where they ordered slaves to bear witness.

The Bras-Coupé legend grew after his death and took on fantastic dimensions. Storytellers gave him superpowers. His skin, it was alleged, could not be punctured by bullets. His gaze could turn men to stone. Folklorists have transcribed many such examples of the tale and writers, including George Washington Cable and Robert Penn Warren, have adapted it into novels. Over time, new details appeared in the mythology and the legend transformed. Some said that he was an African Prince before he was kidnapped and brought to Louisiana; others, that he was the most famous performer at Congo Square, playing an indispensable role in the preservation of African music and dance. Sidney Bechet, one of the city's most celebrated composers and reed players, even suggested it was Bras-Coupé who invented jazz.

This book is available in hardcover ($39.95).

Bryan Wagner discusses and signs his book, The Life and Legend of Bras Coupe: The Fugitive Slave Who Fought the Law, Ruled the Swamp, Danced at Congo Square, Invented Jazz, and Died for Love.

If you are unable to attend, you must call the book shop to order signed books.

Sunday, March 24th

2-4PM

Quercus Louisiana is a rare and remarkable book that follows one artist’s journey to document Louisiana’s oldest live oak trees, before they are lost and forgotten.

This book reveals, through photos and text, the magic and mystery of Louisiana’s old live oaks – its oldest historic oaks, that pre-date European settlement; the historic allees, how the live oak became a cultural icon of Louisiana. And it shares some of the human stories connected with the oaks – anecdotes and accounts of the generations of diverse people who settled and built their homes near the oaks’ sheltering limbs.

This book is available in hardcover ($37.50).

William Guion discusses and signs his book, Quercus Louisiana: The Splendid Live Oaks of Louisiana.

If you are unable to attend, you must call the book shop to order signed books.

Tuesday, March 26th

6-7:30PM

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting...

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive. Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

This book is available in hardcover ($26.00).

Samantha Downing is in conversation with Marti Dumas discussing her book, My Lovely Wife.  Samatha will sign books afterward.

If you are unable to attend, you must call the book shop to order signed books.