In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A MemoirNeil White, a journalist and magazine publisher, wanted the best for those he loved-nice cars, beautiful homes, luxurious clothes. He loaned money to family and friends, gave generously to his church, and invested in his community-but his bank account couldn't keep up. Soon White began moving money from one account to another to avoid bouncing checks. His world fell apart when the FBI discovered his scheme and a judge sentenced him to serve eighteen months in a federal prison. But it was no ordinary prison. The beautiful, isolated colony in Carville, Louisiana, was also home to the last people in the continental United States disfigured by leprosy. Hidden away for decades, this small circle of outcasts had forged a tenacious, clandestine community, a fortress to repel the cruelty of the outside world. It is here, in a place rich with history, where the Mississippi River briefly runs north, amid an unlikely mix of leprosy patients, nuns, and criminals, that White's strange and compelling journey begins. He finds a new best friend in Ella Bounds, an eighty-year-old African American double amputee who had contracted leprosy as a child. She and the other secret people, along with a wacky troop of inmates, help White rediscover the value of simplicity, friendship, and gratitude. -- Jacket. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abita Springs arms asked bank Bureau of Prisons cafeteria called carlos Marcello carville chair CHAPTER checks church Clark Kent colony convicts courtyard Dan Duchaine dance didn’t disease Doc’s door Duchaine Ella's Father reynolds federal felt fingers floor Frank Frank Ragano friends fuck guards hair hallway hand head heat pill held Hoffa imagined inmates inside Jefferson Jimmy Hoffa Kahn Ken Murphy kids knew laughed leper leprosarium leprosy patients Levin Linda Link Little Neil live looked Louisiana loved magazine menu board Miss Mississippi morning mother motherfucker moved muffulettas Neil and Maggie Neil White never night nodded Ole Miss Orleans Oxford photographs side smell Smeltzer smiled stared Steve read stood story talk tell thing thought told took turned visiting room waited walked Walloon Lake wanted watched wheelchair Willie Morris woman Woodsen wrote yelled