Robicheaux's Roots

Culture and Tradition in James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux Novels

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, American, Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Folklore & Mythology
Cover of the book Robicheaux's Roots by Patricia M. Gaitely, LSU Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Patricia M. Gaitely ISBN: 9780807164181
Publisher: LSU Press Publication: August 22, 2016
Imprint: LSU Press Language: English
Author: Patricia M. Gaitely
ISBN: 9780807164181
Publisher: LSU Press
Publication: August 22, 2016
Imprint: LSU Press
Language: English

James Lee Burke developed the character of Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux through twenty mystery novels published over three decades. Despite readers’ increasing interest in Detective Robicheaux, his habits and preferences originate from a culture still unfamiliar to many of the books’ fans. In Robicheaux’s Roots, Patricia M. Gaitely explores the music, food, language, and folklore of southwest Louisiana and illuminates the cultural sources that Burke incorporated into this gripping series.

Part of Robicheaux’s appeal, Gaitely shows, rests in his connection to his hometown of New Iberia, with its faults, charm, and reliance on the old ways. Multiple cultural strands coexist in this region, including Creole and Cajun French dialect; African American folk sayings; swamp pop, zydeco, and blues music; and voodoo, Catholicism, evangelicalism, and faith healing. These aspects of Cajun life weave throughout Robicheaux’s world. The commingling of so many traditions provides multiple meanings for even the most common encounters—water can be both natural element and medium between living and dead; and gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish may represent more than simply regional foods. Additionally, Gaitely demonstrates that beneath the pleasant veneer of southern hospitality, a persistent legacy of violence and vengeance leaves a lasting mark on the lives of Robicheaux and the other characters.

Robicheaux’s Roots reveals how elements of south Louisiana’s culture signal a sense of belonging but also recall the area’s history of isolation. As a result, readers gain a deeper understanding of Robicheaux himself and an enhanced appreciation for Burke’s acclaimed series.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

James Lee Burke developed the character of Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux through twenty mystery novels published over three decades. Despite readers’ increasing interest in Detective Robicheaux, his habits and preferences originate from a culture still unfamiliar to many of the books’ fans. In Robicheaux’s Roots, Patricia M. Gaitely explores the music, food, language, and folklore of southwest Louisiana and illuminates the cultural sources that Burke incorporated into this gripping series.

Part of Robicheaux’s appeal, Gaitely shows, rests in his connection to his hometown of New Iberia, with its faults, charm, and reliance on the old ways. Multiple cultural strands coexist in this region, including Creole and Cajun French dialect; African American folk sayings; swamp pop, zydeco, and blues music; and voodoo, Catholicism, evangelicalism, and faith healing. These aspects of Cajun life weave throughout Robicheaux’s world. The commingling of so many traditions provides multiple meanings for even the most common encounters—water can be both natural element and medium between living and dead; and gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish may represent more than simply regional foods. Additionally, Gaitely demonstrates that beneath the pleasant veneer of southern hospitality, a persistent legacy of violence and vengeance leaves a lasting mark on the lives of Robicheaux and the other characters.

Robicheaux’s Roots reveals how elements of south Louisiana’s culture signal a sense of belonging but also recall the area’s history of isolation. As a result, readers gain a deeper understanding of Robicheaux himself and an enhanced appreciation for Burke’s acclaimed series.

More books from LSU Press

Cover of the book Days of Glory by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book The American and British Debate Over Equality, 1776-1920 by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Lee's Tigers by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book A Field Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Louisiana by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Winding through Time by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book A Broken Regiment by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Faster Than Light by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book The Papers of Jefferson Davis by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book The Ninety-Third Name of God by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Transition to an Industrial South by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book The Man Who Saws Us in Half by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Speaking French in Louisiana, 1720-1955 by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Black Africans in the British Imagination by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Reinventing Dixie by Patricia M. Gaitely
Cover of the book Ghost Dance by Patricia M. Gaitely
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy