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Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales Paperback – May 31, 1987

by Robert Tallant (Author), Lyle Saxon (Author), Edward Dreyer (Author)

166 ratings

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

Print length

640 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Pelican Publishing
Publication date

May 31, 1987
Dimensions

6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

9780882896458
ISBN-13

978-0882896458
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Francis Brett Young
11
Paperback
2 offers from $20.10
Lyle Saxon
25
Paperback
6 offers from $15.17
Alcee Fortier
13
Paperback
8 offers from $12.20
Aurielle Marie
29
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47 offers from $12.32
Nathan Rabalais
10
Hardcover
18 offers from $29.69
Dan Baum
504
Paperback
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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 Louisiana's 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

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0882896458
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pelican Publishing (May 31, 1987)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780882896458
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0882896458
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.83 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,045,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #613 in Mythology (Books)
- #1,504 in American Fiction Anthologies
- #9,961 in Folklore (Books)

Customer Reviews:
166 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

166 global ratings

5 star		82%
4 star		11%
3 star		4%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Patricia B.

Used but very good condition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is a replacement of one that had to be left behind during a storm
It is excellent
An used but good condition
Very well packed

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 18, 2022

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I was expecting stories or legends from the bayous. Instead it seems more of a detailed historical account of the street vendors.

Helpful

Rosie Walker

Plunge into folk culture

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

Come away with me to Cajun country. Let me quote from the back cover:
"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 fais do-do; the proud Blacks, with their blend of Christianity and voodoo.

By the way, "Gumbo Ya-Ya" translates as "everybody talks at once."

One person found this helpful

Helpful

shana McClellan

Perfect

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 12, 2021

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This is an amazing book very interesting and exactly what I was looking for I wanted to learn more about Louisiana Folk Tales in the mystery of the supernatural there in this book thoroughly explains everything that I was looking into

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

All went well with the order.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 27, 2018

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We are losing a lot of what has made the South Southern. As we become more and more like the rest of the country, it is important to look back and recall the things that made us different. This book will help you to get a little look back at the people and folk tales of Louisiana.

6 people found this helpful

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Landie

An All Favorite

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 29, 2013

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I first read this book when I was in middle school or high school back in the 1970s. It quickly became my favorite book and remains one of my all time favorites. This book is chock full of Louisiana folklore. As an African American of Cajun descent, I enjoyed reading about the Cajuns along the bayous. I myself grew up along Bayou Barataria. My favorite stories include the loup garou, Cajuns and city dwelling Creoles. While I still have my hardback copy, I would love to have a copy for my Kindle. I recommend other books by Tallant and Saxon.

10 people found this helpful

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Lost Cajun

Gumbo YaYa-a nice little book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 16, 2009

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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.

4 people found this helpful

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Lewis Kinchin

Different edition than indicated

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 4, 2019

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The book I received has a different cover, size and number of pages than was indicated. As well as being a different, lower quality, cover, the binding is poor. The print is also much bigger than expected leading me to believe I was sent a large print version of the book.

Pierre Brewee

Worth the money

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

Folk tales of Louisiana. Meet the cajuns and the creoles, visit the bayous, see Mardi Gras and his groups, ...

Lubylu

Essential reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 17, 2016

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A spectacular look at the myriad cultures, superstitions and festivals of New Orleans. Essential reading for anyone fascinated by the crescent city. This book will do nothing to dim your enthusiasm.

Amazon Customer

great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

Borrowed this from the library endlessly so happy that I did it's great

Birgit

Ein Kleinod

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on August 19, 2015

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Dieses Buch ist für Leser,die sich intensiv mit der Kultur,den Traditionen und dem sozialen Leben von Louisiana befassen oder sich dafür interessieren.Der Untertitel ist etwas irreführend,denn es handelt sich hier nicht um Märchen oder Geschichten sondern um Bräuche und Vorstellungen der verschiedenen Volksgruppen.Es gibt Originalzitate und unglaublich interessante Berichte zur Kulturgeschichte.Alles ist in einem unterhaltsamen Stil geschrieben.Man bekommt einen guten Eindruck von dem großen Reichtum und der Vielfalt der Kultur der Region und ihrer Andersartigkeit.

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Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales Paperback – May 31, 1987

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