Evangeline and The Acadians

U.S. Landmark Books #74

by Robert Tallant, Corinne Dillon (Illustrator)

The tale of the Acadians and their exile from Nova Scotia plays against the backdrop of one of literature's premier love stories in this prose presentation.

Genres: History, Canada, American History, Nonfiction, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

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 (pb) 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.


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Reviews

[Nelleke Plouffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives the historical context for Longfellow's poem "Evangeline," telling the story of the Acadians from their settlement in Nova Scotia, through the deportation and subsequent wanderings, to the settlement of many in Louisiana. I recommend this for grades three and up, and will be using this in my homeschool. Canadians will want to learn more about the Acadians who came back to Nova Scotia, and compare the Acadian culture Tallant describes in Louisiana with the Acadian culture in Canada today.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple in structure but definitely not in content. This book is an overview of the Acadian people, driven out from Nova Scotia by the British long before the US was born, who made their way to the bayous of LA to put roots down that still hold to this day.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There aren't that many books written on this level about the Acadians. I thought this book was great till the last few chapters. Then it was just good because the information was dated. Still worth a read for my family!

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting anthropology of the French settlers. This book shows the foolishness of big government in colonialism. While I support the practical implications of colonialism in bringing civilization to the world, nevertheless, many of these countries acted out of pride and bureaucracy in their practical dealings.

Secondly, I learned that Catholics don't value reading among the common men. While the Puritans, Baptists, and Reformers wanted everyone to read the Bible, whereas these Catholics Acadians resisted learning to read until the late 1800's.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I came to have this book on my shelf, but I pulled it down tonight and read it. It's very easy reading, but is "history" in exactly the way that you would expect a book written in 1957 to be so...no citations, hyperbole, all of the tropes. Nonetheless, I didn't know much about the Acadians before reading this, and I've now been inspired to learn more, so I guess at the end of the day, it's a win.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great resource for this horrible part of early Canadian history. I wish it had a more narrative voice, but the telling is not too dry that a 10 year old would be bored. Gr 4+ due to disturbing content (families being separated, etc)

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acadian means aquoddie, an Indian word for the fish called a pollock.