Pelican Bestsellers

Under a canopy of magnolias and live oaks, bordered by the streets of Jackson, Magazine, Louisiana, and St. Charles, spacious mansions serve as a gallery of fine architecture in a section of New Orleans known as the Garden District. Once home to a grand plantation, the property was sold and divided for residential use more than 150 years ago. Now, where fertile crops once grew, a garden of magnificent houses has come to bloom, representing one of the most characteristic features of the Crescent City.

In his final work, critically acclaimed photographer Paul Malone visits forty-three picturesque landmarks of the Garden District. With historical text provided by his wife, Lee Malone, The Majesty of the Garden District displays these remarkable homes inside and out, with an emphasis on the gracefully decorated interiors. These brilliant full-color photographs capture the history, design, and grandeur of this New Orleans neighborhood.

Among the buildings in this collection are notable homes ranging from Toby's Corner, believed to be the oldest house in the district, to the Edward Davis house, which is now more commonly known as the headquarters of the New Orleans Opera Association's Women's Guild. The Malones even veer from the usual architectural features to focus on some unusual characteristics of the borough such as Christ Church Cathedral, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, and the world famous Commander's Palace restaurant.

The Majesty of the Garden District is the fifth book produced by Paul and Lee Malone. Paul Malone was a portrait photographer and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. Lee Malone is a former manager of the Paul Malone Photography studio in New Orleans. Their delightful collaboration of textual history and color photography has also produced Louisiana Plantation Homes: A Return to Splendor, long known as the premier photographic book of Louisiana's plantation gems and The Majesty of River Road . The Malones completed work on The Majesty of the Garden District just weeks prior to Mr. Malone's death in 1993. This book serves as a fitting tribute to his photography career.

Puerto Rican Cookery has become the standard reference on traditional native cookery (cocina criolla). According to the San Juan Star, "the cookbook is seen and is more likely better read in some homes than the religious tome. . . . [it] is considered a primer for beginning cooks . . . a textbook for home economists and it is a guide for the gourmet as well."

Includes raised tombs, ornate statuary, and the alleged grave of voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

This journal recounts the 65-mile journey, during which prisoners had no food, water, or rest. The author survived the POW camps on the Philippine island of Luzon.

Selected from the book by the same title, these framing-quality images evoke the multi-layered architectural history of the five-mile stretch of New Orleans that encompasses a century of architectural styles, including intricate Queen Ann houses, stately Italianate and Richardsonian mansions, and more. This is where the old and new live cheek-by-jowl, where decay is an art form, and where preservation is a way of life.

Photographer Kerri McCaffety's work has won a tremendous outpouring of praise:

"[McCaffety's] photography is flawless and captivating."
-Chere Cohen, Baton Rouge Advocate

"McCaffety captures architectural structures with an unobtrusive and engaging eye, remaining acutely perceptive to light and its consequence of shadow."
-Kyle Norris, ForeWord

"For the reader who enjoys mansions and lavishness . . . also will appeal to those interested in the historic development of New Orleans."
-Reba J. McMellon, The Mississippi Press

A captivating visual guide to New Orleans's history!

Hailed as being one of the most comprehensive collections of photos, paintings, and drawings on its release in 1971, this educational and entertaining selection is now in paperback! From the city's French and Spanish beginnings to American forces fighting off British soldiers in the War of 1812, this is truly a fascinating compilation. These pages chronicle major historical moments along with the architecture, jazz, scandals, duels, cuisine, and fine arts that make New Orleans an amazing city to behold.

On April 27, 1865, the Sultana, a 260-foot, wooden-hulled steamboat, exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. More than 1,800 men died.

Revealing historical tales of the Southern mystique.,

"From various necessities of the case I am sometimes the story-teller, and sometimes, in the reader's interest, have to abridge; but I add no fact and trim naught of value away. . . . In time, place, circumstance, in every essential feature, I give them as I got them--strange stories that truly happened, all partly, some wholly, in Louisiana."

Featuring seven factual accounts of life and history in the area, this compilation includes tales of French nuns, haunted houses, and even a Union woman trapped behind Civil War battle lines. Cable brings together all the unusual and unique aspects of New Orleans and the South in this literary collection.

Old World recipes, where delicious flavor is the goal and a dollop of love is the most important ingredient. This cookbook contains no calorie counts, carbohydrate statistics, or other nutritional guidelines. Wholly dedicated to good old-fashioned taste, these family recipes'many from the author's grandparents' delicatessen'include everything from knishes to blintzes, with some borscht and kugel thrown in. There are also recipes from celebrities such as Richard Simmons and Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and crowd-pleasers like brisket, chicken wings, and much more.

The perfect keepsake of a trip to beautiful, historic Natchez, this delightful postcard book also allows a slice of the antebellum South to be sent to friends and family. Stanton Hall, the headquarters for the world-famous annual Natchez Pilgrimage, and Texada, a brick building that has served as everthing from a tavern to a town meeting hall, are but two of the architectural marvels presented.

For visitors to Natchez, this postcard book will preserve many fond memories and will also allow them to send the essence of the Old South to friends and family unable to visit Natchez themselves.

Many heroic actions were taken by Hispanic soldiers who have not gotten much recognition for their efforts.

America's leading authority on Halloween presents interviews with spooky rock groups, amateur vampires, haunted house creators, champion pumpkin carvers, and more, all in the quest of explaining the nation's unique love affair with this holiday. The collection of essays and interviews explores the pop culture phenomenon that is Halloween, and why we celebrate it the way we do today.

Voyage to Louisiana recounts Robin's adventures in Pensacola, New Orleans, and the Attakapas and Ouachita country. He vividly describes the distinctive lifestyle and customs of the Louisiana Acadians and the New Orleans Creoles and provides a rare, tantalizing glimpse into the history of colonial Louisiana.

Drifting down the bayou the night after Christmas, Boudreau discovers a fat alligator named Pierre, whom he takes home as a pet. The Boudreau children give Pierre their full attention, much to Pierre�s dismay, but in the end, it�s a very happy Cajun night after Christmas all through the year!

This is an account of the actions in Paulding County, Georgia, during the last week of May 1864, including a significant phase in the Atlanta Campaign. During this interval, the Confederate army stops Sherman's advance for the first time. The battles of Pickett's Mill and Dallas are also covered.

The battles depicted in this comprehensive book had in impact on the outcome of the Civil War. Through firsthand documents, maps, and more than 150 photographs, the historical significance of each site is emphasized. Details on the level of preservation of each battlefield, including Shiloh and Chattanooga, are included.

Based on exclusive interviews with over 120 groundbreaking musicians, Craig Harris has crafted what feels like the first truly comprehensive history of bluegrass. His research and never-before-seen photos make Bluegrass a new authority on the genre’s strongest influencers. It is arranged chronologically from Bill Monroe in 1927 to the Earls of Leicester today. Highlights include entertaining facts and anecdotes about Flatt & Scruggs, Del McCoury, Doc Watson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and more. Casual readers and mountain-music buffs alike will come away with a rich understanding of the roots and evolution of this uniquely American sound.

Discover the horses of the Civil War!

]Never before has there been such a comprehensive look at Confederate military horses in the Civil War and their lives before, during, and after battle. Why particular breeds or colors were chosen for specific tasks, what the life expectancy of military horses was and why they died, and the distinct challenges of caring for horses in wartime conditions are all covered. Chapters focus on how they were acquired by their owners, their lineages, the stories behind their names, and the ways in which they were immortalized. Robert E. Lee's Traveller, Stonewall Jackson's Little Sorrel, Forrest's thirty horses, Ashby's Tom Telegraph, and many more are included in this must-read history.

The truth behind Ted Kennedy's fateful crash into Poucha Pond.

“My friend Mary Jo just happened to be in the wrong car at the wrong time with the wrong people.”
—Rosemary Keough, the second passenger

One fateful night in Massachusetts, Sen. Ted Kennedy was involved in a fatal crash after driving his car from a party on Martha’s Vineyard. After launching his Oldsmobile 88 across Dike Bridge and into Poucha Pond, Kennedy escaped the submerged car and headed back to Edgartown. Why didn't he save the drowning woman in the rear seat of the car? More importantly, why was Mary Jo Kopechne in the rear seat if the two were traveling together? Suspicion and intrigue have clouded the public's opinion of Kennedy and his involvement with this “crime” for years, but the truth, as revealed here, takes all of the evidence into account and presents a clear explanation of the death at Chappaquiddick.

Get to know one of the most unique cities in the world!

New Orleans is unlike anywhere else on Earth--the fusion of cultures, people, and food all establish a whole greater than its constituent parts. From migration to politics to music to ethnic culture and identity, this comprehensive volume touches on all aspects of New Orleans history for the past 300 years.

With contributions from some of the leading influencers and scholars of New Orleans cultural history, including a foreword by Professor Emeritus Lawrence N. Powell, no stone is left unturned. This is the quintessential book on New Orleans for every history buff, citizen of New Orleans, or visitor wanting to know more about who we are and how we got here.

From brunch to dessert, these kitchen madams serve up history New Orleans style!

Author and culinary historian Poppy Tooker masterfully combines all the myriad strands that fill the rooms of Tujague's beautifully restored establishment into a whole cloth of foodie lore. As the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans, Tujague's boasts more than a century of fresh Creole cuisine served in the heart of the French Quarter. More than a cookbook, this foray into history combines memorabilia from the restaurant's archives with stunning modern images from New Orleans photographers Sam Hanna and Louis Sahuc. The dramatic story of the successful effort to save the restaurant is included, along with tales of ghostly guests and authentic dishes and drinks celebrating the oldest standup bar in America and the restaurant that created the international tradition of brunch.

From Caf' de R'fugi's, the city's first eatery that later became Antoine's, to Toney's Spaghetti House, Houlihan's, and Bali Hai, this guide recalls restaurants from New Orleans' past. Period photographs provide a glimpse into the history of New Orleans' famous and culturally diverse culinary scene. Recipes offer the reader a chance to try the dishes once served.

This in-depth look at the circumstances of the Pacific War notes that the Japanese military's willingness to die for their emperor and country created a very different type of warfare.