Isle of CanesIsle of Canes is the epic account of an African-American family in Louisiana that, over four generations and more than 150 years, rose from the chains of slavery to rule the Isle of Canes. Historically accurate and genealogically significant, this first novel by eminent genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills is a gripping tale of racial bias, human conflict, and economic ruin told against the backdrop of colonial Louisiana. This novel is the result of more than thirty years of research. To fuel the story, as well as to maintain historical accuracy, the author found and referenced actual family history documents such as baptism records, manumission papers, probate records, land records, book extracts, and more to reconstruct the lives and times of Francois, Fanny, Coincoin, Augustin, and countless other unforgettable characters. But it takes more than documents on paper and microfilm to bring such an epic story to life. Mills' engaging prose puts flesh on the bones and pulls you into the lives and lifestyle of long-ago Louisiana."" |
Contents
17421758 | 11 |
17651781 | 91 |
17881816 | 209 |
Part 5 | 401 |
18591876 | 473 |
Epilogue | 569 |
A Note about Sources 579 | 583 |
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Common terms and phrases
Agnes Anglo arms asked Athanase de Mézières Augustin Barbe began Big House brother Burdin Cane River Chatta cher child church Coincoin colony colored commandant Creole damned daughter Delago Denis Hill door Dupré Emanuela Étienne eyes face Fanny Fanny's father France François friends Gálvez Gassion girl Grandpère grinned Gustin hand heard Isle of Canes Jean Joseph knew La Rochelle land laughed Lecomte look Louis Louis's Louisiana M'sieur Ma'mselle Madame Mama Manuel manumission Marie Thérèse married matter Melite Mézières Mista mother Natchitoches nègres Negroes never night Opelousas Orleans Papa parish Pavie Père Perine Perine's Pierre Metoyer Pierre's pirogues Plaçage plantation Pratt priest Prudhomme Quintanilla Rachal replied retorted River Señor slaves smiled Spanish stared Susanne T'Pierre tell There's thought told voice wife woman young