by Lyle Saxon
A compilation of early stories by New Orleans author Lyle Saxon
Now available to order at local bookstores or online
“An excellent introduction . . . Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!”
–IndieReader
“Compelling, offbeat, and powerful works which, when presented together under one cover, create a solid work of literary and historical achievement.”
–Midwest Book Review
In time for the New Orleans tricentennial celebration, this anthology of Lyle Saxon’s earliest published works brings to light stories that have remained hidden for nearly a century. Acclaimed during his time as an unofficial historian laureate of New Orleans and environs, Saxon’s stories had a monumental effect on the preservation of the city’s history and architectural heritage.
Originally published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, the thirty-nine stories that comprise this volume include short stories, preservationist essays and character sketches from the author’s beloved city.
In Who Would Hunt for Spanish Doubloons and Pieces of Eight? Saxon tells of finding a dying man on a barrier island off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. Just before death, the man imparts to Saxon a treasure map, a cryptic diary and a promise of buried Spanish gold. All you have to do is decode the clues!
Biloxi’s “mad potter,” George Ohr, is the subject of another tale. Saxon visits the pottery and falls in love with Ohr’s unusual style. He seeks to meet the man, and discovers that the artisan died only a few years earlier. The reader is offered insight into Ohr’s personality and an opportunity to buy the entire collection for a few thousand dollars.
The Street Singer tells of Gilbert Mestier, a street performer who sang in Vieux Carré coffee shops for sailors and tourists. Blind since childhood, he never received formal training, yet a clear voice and talent allowed him to hit high C. He only needed a break.
In April 1923, New Orleans hosted a convention of the dwindling band of Southern veterans of the Civil War. In The Last Reunion, Saxon reflects on their fading numbers and dwindling relevance.
The Tattooist explores the question of what to tell your family when they return from a trip to find you newly tattooed from head to toe. Saxon pays a visit to Sailor Toney, an inker who has many stories.
Hardcover: 242 pages
Publisher: Cultured Oak Press
On-Sale: September 28, 2018
Language: English
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-6921415-2-6
Hardcover List Price: $26.00
eBook ISBN: 978-1-7325404-0-8
eBook List Price: $2.99
About the Author
Lyle Chambers Saxon (1891-1946) earned his writing chops as a reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. As a young man in the early 1920s, Saxon pursued an exhausting newspaper career, writing the stories and character sketches that gave him the skills to produce later classics of Louisiana literature, such as Children of Strangers, Fabulous New Orleans, Old Louisiana and Lafitte the Pirate.
A Lyle Saxon Reader will be available at local bookstores and at online retailers such as Amazon.com, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and others.
Press Kit for A Lyle Saxon Reader:
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For publicity, contact Michael Warner at (314) 499-6669 or info@culturedoak.com