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"Robert Tallant speaks with authority . . ."

—New York Times

"Straightforward handling of sensational

times and tricksters, of the cult of voodooism in all its manifestations. From its first known appearances in New Orleans of 200 years ago, here are the . . . rites and dances, the cures, charms and gris-gris. Here were the witchdoctors and queens, and in particular Doctor John . . . and Marie Laveau.”

—Kirkus Reviews

"Much nonsense has been written about voodoo in New Orleans. . . . Here is a truthful and definitive picture."

—Lyle Saxon

The word “voodoo” elicits reactions from fear to fascination; thoughts of pins stuck in dolls, hexes, and strange rites immediately come to mind. But few people know the true origin of voodooism or anything about its practice in America, particularly New Orleans. This examination of voodoo rites and beliefs is sure to fascinate every reader.

Originally published in 1946, this intriguing book examines the rites and beliefs associated with voodoo through the legends of the art—its charms, trances, rituals, and difficult-to-explain occurrences.

Robert Tallant was one of Louisiana’s best-known authors. Born in New Orleans in 1909, he attended the city’s local public schools. Before “drifting” into writing, Tallant worked as an advertising copywriter, a bank teller, and a clerk. It was his friendship with Lyle Saxon that led Tallant to his position as editor on the Louisiana WPA Writers’ Project during the 1930s and 1940s. In that position, he coauthored Gumbo Ya-Ya: Folk Tales of Louisiana with Lyle Saxon and Edward Dreyer.

By 1948, Tallant’s career had launched, and over the next eleven years he produced eight novels, six full-length works of nonfiction, and numerous short stories and articles on subjects of local interest. He is also known to have corresponded with, as well as applied to, the Julius Rosenwald Fund for a fellowship in creative writing. During the last years of his life, he was a lecturer in English at Newcomb College as well as a reporter for the New Orleans Item. Robert Tallant died in 1957.

Preserving Appalachian Heritage Through Traditional Crafts

Explore the heart of Southern Appalachia through its master artisans. The Artistic Preservation of Tradition highlights a tight-knit community of craftspeople, ages 32 to 92, who keep centuries-old techniques alive. From woodworking and pottery to music and storytelling, their work honors Appalachian history and culture. Meet legends like Willard Watson and Stanley Hicks, and discover modern innovators like Cory Plott and William Ritter. Author and artist Bob Plott brings these powerful stories to life in a heartfelt tribute to tradition and creativity. Perfect for readers who love local history, folk art, and handmade heritage, this book is a must-read for anyone drawn to the spirit of the mountains.

Preserving Appalachian Heritage Through Traditional Crafts

Explore the heart of Southern Appalachia through its master artisans. The Artistic Preservation of Tradition highlights a tight-knit community of craftspeople, ages 32 to 92, who keep centuries-old techniques alive. From woodworking and pottery to music and storytelling, their work honors Appalachian history and culture. Meet legends like Willard Watson and Stanley Hicks, and discover modern innovators like Cory Plott and William Ritter. Author and artist Bob Plott brings these powerful stories to life in a heartfelt tribute to tradition and creativity. Perfect for readers who love local history, folk art, and handmade heritage, this book is a must-read for anyone drawn to the spirit of the mountains.

Lying deep within southwest Florida, the Big Cypress National Preserve protects over 1,000 square miles of the Big Cypress Swamp. Home to namesake cypress tree swamps as well as prairies, forested islands, ghost orchids, alligators, Florida panthers, and waterbirds, its human history spans thousands of years, becoming a refuge for the unconquered Seminole and Miccosukee people. Nearly inaccessible until the 1920s, when opened by roads and the railroad, it was America’s last frontier, settled by hardy pioneers, plume and alligator hunters, farmers, smugglers, and moonshiners. Avoiding large-scale development, the preserve was established over 50 years ago to protect the swamp and Everglades water resources while facilitating compatible traditional uses. Today, the preserve continues to support its swamp heritage, both natural and cultural, enabling Seminoles, Miccosukees, backwoodsmen, recreationists, and passing motorists to appreciate its unique environment.

James A. Kushlan is an author, conservationist, and South Florida historian with a University of Miami doctorate focused on the Big Cypress Swamp. He has authored 12 books. Kirsten Hines is an author, photographer, and conservationist. Her writing and photography highlight wildlife, including in her recent books Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey and Birds of Florida. This is the fifth book they have coauthored for Arcadia Publishing on South Florida. 

Tarheel Quakers and the Fight Against Slavery

Quakers settled the Carolina Colony in the 1650s, bringing their slaves and servants with them. Industrious coastal Quakers soon rose to prominence on the backs of their enslaved men and women, and Piedmont Quaker lives were enriched by the people they enslaved as well. Sparked by the observations of John Woolman, Carolina Quakers took up the battle against slavery in the 1700s, beginning with themselves. Legal conflicts, the Free Negro program, colonization, the North Carolina Manumission Society and the Underground Railroad were the results. Combining North Carolina slave narratives, runaway slave ads, digital archives, local histories and internet blogs, Tim Allen re-creates the inspiring story of Tarheel Quakers who fought each other and the state to abolish enslavement in antebellum North Carolina.

Forgotten History in the Tar Heel State

Take an adventure through ruins of ghost towns and lost communities in the Old North State. Explore isolated settlements like Lost Cove, hidden so deep in the mountains that no roads reach it. Ferry out to Portsmouth Island, where a ghost town has withstood multiple wars and generations of hurricanes. Explore the ruins of Brunswick Town, a port community of secret rebels destroyed in the Revolutionary War as punishment for “treason” against the British. Visit decaying remains in Snow Camp, a community that sheltered freedom seekers in the Underground Railroad.

Author Heather Leah details the lost and forgotten towns of North Carolina.

From farmers to pastors, teachers to sailors, and everything in between, the Black history of Hanover County reflects the dedication and values of the community.

Freedwoman Betsy Hogg Tinsley, in time, became one of the largest landowners in Ashland. Founded in 1870, Brown Grove Baptist Church has been the center of its neighborhood for more than 150 years.

During the time of segregation, Lucian Hunter of Mechanicsville worked to make sure that Black students could get to school. The Barksdale Theatre in the Hanover Tavern produced Virginia’s first professional play based on the African American experience. Tracing their history back to 1796, the Brooks family boasts military service across five generations.

Author and local social studies teacher Joe Gorman celebrates the rich history and proud heritage of Hanover County African Americans.

Welcome to the wild, true history of Black baseball in Alabama.

From the gritty fields of Birmingham and Montgomery to the national stage of Cooperstown, Black Baseball in Alabama uncovers the real-life drama, danger, and determination that built one of America’s most important sports legacies. Author Shane Earnest explores how Black players, managers, and entrepreneurs navigated racism, segregation, and economic hardship. They transformed baseball into a thriving entertainment business alongside politicians, musicians, gamblers, gangsters, and bootleggers. These men and women took baseball from Alabama’s cotton fields and coal mines all the way to Cooperstown. Whether you’re a Negro Leagues historian, a Black sports history buff, or a fan of Alabama baseball heritage, this book is packed with powerful, rarely told stories that shaped the soul of American baseball, complete with many rare photos of a historic era in baseball.

Pirate history, costumes, and decorated boats and ships have been the center of the famed Gasparilla Pirate Festival for over a century.

Since 1904, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla has staged an annual mock pirate invasion of Tampa, Florida, a tradition that has become known as Gasparilla. The name of the event originated from stories and tales regarding Gasparilla, a legendary pirate who reportedly roamed the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s west coast in the early 1800s.

The sound of cannon fire heard for miles across the Tampa Bay area signals the arrival of the José Gasparilla ship and the beginning of the piratical invasion of Tampa. Thousands of spectators line the waterways to watch the ship and massive boat flotilla make their way to dock at the Tampa Convention Center.

Following the traditional demand for the keys to the city, a parade is staged, the third-largest one-day parade in the country. Tampa’s iconic Bayshore Boulevard is lined with several hundred thousand spectators, krewes, and other participants who produce a spectacular parade.

The history committee of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla has provided the historical references for the book, and photographic materials have been obtained from leading institutions, including the Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library System, the State of Florida Archives, and the University of South Florida Library Special Collections.

History You Didn’t Learn in School

Discover powerful stories left out of most history books. Author Jeffrey Bennett reveals the hidden legacy of Black Virginians. From 1865 to 1877, over 80 Black politicians served across the state. Learn about a brave Black woman who spied on Confederate President Jefferson Davis while disguised as an enslaved worker.

See the history of more than seventy Black communities lost in Virginia. Read the story of a 135-year-old church and the meaning behind land passed down through generations. These stories show the strength and impact of Black families before and after slavery. Perfect for history lovers and older readers, this collection brings forgotten voices back to life.

See the Real Central Florida   

Central Florida is more than theme parks and condos. Beneath the surface lies a rich and surprising past. River pirates once ruled its inland waterways. Spanish forts and Confederate hideouts marked its wild frontier.Tarpon Springs became home to the largest Greek-American community in the U.S. French pirates sailed through Pinellas County’s bays and barrier islands. During Prohibition, the Harris Chain of Lakes tied the region to Caribbean rum-runners and Gatsby-style parties.Along the Treasure Coast, lighthouse keepers risked their lives to guide sailors past deadly shoals.

Native Floridian Jennifer Husmann brings these forgotten stories to life with vivid detail and deep research. Perfect for readers who love Florida history, hidden places, and real stories from the past. Take a journey through Central Florida like you’ve never seen it before—authentic, adventurous, and full of untold tales.