A magical mystery tour of the extraordinary historical characters
that have defined the unique spiritual landscape of New Orleans.
New Orleans has long been America’s most magical city, inhabited by a
fascinating visible and invisible world, full of mysteries, known for
its decadence and haunted by its spirits. If Salem, Massachusetts, is
famous for its persecution of witches, New Orleans is celebrated for its
embrace of the magical, mystical, and paranormal. New Orleans is
acclaimed for its witches, ghosts, and vampires. Because of its unique
history, New Orleans is the historical stronghold of traditional African
religions and spirituality in the US. No other city worldwide is as
associated with Vodou as New Orleans.
In her new book, author
and scholar Denise Alvarado takes us on a magical tour of New Orleans.
There is a mysterious spiritual underbelly hiding in plain sight in New
Orleans, and in this book Alvarado shows us where it is and who the
characters are. She tells where they come from and how they persist and
manifest today. Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits, and Hoodoo Saints
shines a light on notable spirits and folk saints such as Papa Legba,
Annie Christmas, Black Hawk, African-American culture hero Jean St.
Malo, St. Expedite, plague saint Roch, and, of course, the mother and
father of New Orleans Voudou, Marie Laveau and Doctor John Montenée. Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits, and Hoodoo Saints serves as a secret history of New Orleans, revealing details even locals may not know.
