The World That Made New Orleans by Ned Sublette

Boston Globe Thoughtful, well-researched. Nation Sublette, who drew raves for Cuba and Its Music, has produced another important resource - and the best argument yet for why we need to save New Orleans. New Orleans Times-Picayune Sublette is a sonic sleuth charting the successive waves of Africans who shaped this black citys culture. Booklist Sublette gets contemporary New Orleans, sees the echoes of the past in our present. New York Times Cultural studies and history do not get much better than this, a must read for anyone who wonders why this city must be saved. Review Quotes Ned Sublette] is a passionate chronicler of the Africans resilience, of how they revived a cultural memory that gave life to music and enduring folkways. Featuring little-known facts about the cultural development of New Orleans-such as the real significance of gumbo, the origins of the tango, and the first appearance of the words vaudeville and voodoo-this rich historical narrative explains how New Orleans colonial influences still shape the city today. It also reveals the origins of jazz and the citys eclectic musical influences, including the role of the slave trade.

This innovative history tracks the important roots of American music back to the swamp town, making clear the effects of centuries-long struggles among France, Spain, and England on the citys unique culture.

Focused on New Orleans first century of existence, it presents a comprehensive, chronological narrative of the political, cultural, and musical development of Louisianas early years.

Book Synopsis Offering a new perspective on the unique cultural influences of New Orleans, this entertaining history captures the soul of the city and reveals its impact on the rest of the nation. About the Book Originally published in hardcover in 2008.

The World That Made New Orleans by Ned Sublette