Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales [Paperback]

Robert Tallant (Author), Lyle Saxon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 1987

Long considered the finest collection of Louisiana folktales and customs, this book chronicles the stories and legends that have emerged from the bayou country.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Garlic hangs from the rafters. The Loup Garou holds a convention on Bayou Goula. Spiders dwell in haunted houses. Images of St. Rosalia are carried from church to church. King Zulu parades on Mardi Gras day. The sights and sounds of Louisiana come alive in Gumbo Ya-Ya ("everybody talks at once"). Long considered the finest collection of Louisiana folk tales and customs, this new edition chronicles the stories and legends that have emerged from across the Bayou State. All aspects of society are detailed in this wonderful album of Louisiana tradition: the old-family Creoles, with their strict codes of honor; the fun-loving Cajuns, with their curious family names and spirited fais do-do; the proud blacks, with their fascinating blend of Christianity and voodoo. Ghosts also abound in these pages-including the headless horseman of Natchitoches, the whimsical apparition who startled citizens of Monroe, and the haunted woods in the Mackeville area. Gumbo Ya-Ya is a charming look at the legends and practices of Louisiana. Originally written as part of the WPA's Louisiana Writers' Program, it has endured as a classic of its genre.

About the Author

ROBERT TALLANT (1909-1957) was one of Louisiana's best-known authors and a participant in the WPA Writers' Project during the 1930s and 1940s. During the last years of his life, he was a lecturer in English at Newcomb College.

Lyle Saxon (1891-1946) ranks among Louisianaís most outstanding writers. During the 1920s and 1930s he was the central figure in the regionís literary community, and was widely known as a raconteur and bon vivant. In addition to Father Mississippi , Lafitte the Pirate, and Children of Strangers, he also wrote Fabulous New Orleans , Old Louisiana, The Friends of Joe Gilmore, and was a co-author of Gumbo Ya-Ya, with Edward Dreyer and Robert Tallant. During the Depression, he directed the state WPA Writers Project, which produced the WPA Guide to Louisiana and the WPA Guide to New Orleans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing; 1ST edition (May 31, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882896458
• ISBN-13: 978-0882896458
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Simply excellent!, March 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Ashlynn's Grove) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales (Paperback)

Originally published as part of the WPA's Louisiana Writer's Program, this charming book of Louisiana Folk Tales was a favorite book in my home while growing up. (So much so, that as a young adult I searched high and low for a copy to call my own. Imagine my delight to find that Amazon Books carries it!)

While some in this age of "political correctness" might blanch at the phonetic rendering of the words of African-Americans in some of the stories; it should be remembered that this book attempts to replicate the actual speech patterns of the individuals interviewed. These same renderings are not generic and gives one the feel of actually being there, on a sultry Louisiana night, "rocking on the porch, ice-tea and fan in hand", being regaled by the stories of the "old-timers".

In this delightful book you will find everything from "Cajun colloquialisms" to "The Mysterious Axeman's (sic) Jazz".
Or re-visit the songs of the street criers and capture the feel of a long ago "Dixieland funeral".
Explore the legend of Marie Laveau as well as the story of the saintly "Mother Shannon". Looking for ghost tales? or maybe the words to some old-time "Spirituals"? Then search no more! This book lives and breathes and I promise you, you will not forget it!
This review is dedicated to the late Col. Thomas Frith Bienvenu, at who's knee I learned to love the rich tapestry which is Louisiana!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gumbo Ya-Ya is excellent!, February 1, 2008

By 

Texan d'Acadien (I live here) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales (Paperback)

Gumbo Ya-Ya is an excellent read. Learn more about the Cajun and Creole cultures by reading the stories contained within this treasure. An excellent reference to hand down to your children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gumbo YaYa-a nice little book, April 16, 2009

By 

Lost Cajun "Charlie" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales (Paperback)

I read this book first years ago. Fascinating Book. However, when reading the first chapter about the Black Mardi Gras one must understand that this was written many, many years ago and no longer reflects the Black Louisianian.

As for the rest of the book: Most enjoyable! If you have any interest in Louisiana folklore, you'll cherish it. I do. It's why I ordered another when mine went missing.