The Strange Case of Dr. Etienne Deschamps


Book Description

This true crime history reveals the story of a deranged dentist in 19th century New Orleans whose obsession with pirate treasure led him to murder. Believing he had magnetic and hypnotic powers, Dr. Etienne Deschamps was convinced he could find the lost treasure of legendary pirate Jean Lafitte. But he needed a young virgin to act as his spirit medium. He chose twelve-year-old Juliette Dietsh, whose immigrant family was dependent on his charity. For months, Deschamps hypnotized, anaesthetized, and sexually molested Dietsh, hoping she would lead him to the treasure. Then he made fatal a mistake. In 1889, Dietsh was found naked and dead from a chloroform overdose in bed next to a distraught Deschamps. Her murder became one of the most notorious crimes in New Orleans history. To some, Deschamps heinous act was deserving of the death penalty, while others believed he was innocent by reason of insanity. This incisive examination of the murder, trials, and newspaper coverage invites readers to rethink this famous case.




New Orleans Coffee: A Rich History


Book Description

New Orleans history is steeped in coffee. Outside the Cathedral of St. Louis in Jackson Square, early entrepreneurs like Old Rose provided eager churchgoers with the brew, and it was sold in the French Market beginning in the late 1700s. Caf du Monde and Morning Call started serving caf au lait more than a century ago. People gathered for business, socializing, politics and auctions at five hundred coffee exchanges and shops in the 1800s. Since 1978, myriad specialty coffee shops have opened to meet increasing demand for great coffee. Author Suzanne Stone presents the full story of this celebrated tradition, including how chicory became part of the city's special flavor.




Death Over a Diamond Stud


Book Description

A true crime history of wrongful arrest, obsessive revenge, and an infamous murder in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. In July of 1903, the newly elected District Attorney J. Ward Gurley was shot to death in his office by a former client. After killing Gurley, Lewis Lyons turned his gun on himself. When his suicide attempt failed, Lyons became the subject of an explosive murder trial and sentenced to death. Once a hardworking family man, Lyons’ downward spiral began years before, when he was wrongly arrested for the theft of a diamond shirt stud. Death Over a Diamond Stud recounts the gripping true story of the first judicial murder of the 20th century. Gurley’s murder sent shock waves through New Orleans not only because of the brutal and brazen nature of the killing, but because the suspect’s name had previously been in the city newspapers. Author Christopher G. Peña vividly recounts Lyons’ journey from innocent man to the cold-blooded killer of his own attorney.




The Making of a Social Disease


Book Description

In this first English-language study of popular and scientific responses to tuberculosis in nineteenth-century France, David Barnes provides a much-needed historical perspective on a disease that is making an alarming comeback in the United States and Europe. Barnes argues that French perceptions of the disease—ranging from the early romantic image of a consumptive woman to the later view of a scourge spread by the poor—owed more to the power structures of nineteenth-century society than to medical science. By 1900, the war against tuberculosis had become a war against the dirty habits of the working class. Lucid and original, Barnes's study broadens our understanding of how and why societies assign moral meanings to deadly diseases.




Christ-Centered Preaching


Book Description

In this complete guide to expository preaching, Bryan Chapell teaches the basics of preparation, organization, and delivery--the trademarks of great preaching. This new edition of a bestselling resource, now updated and revised throughout, shows how Chapell's case for expository preaching reaches twenty-first-century readers.




New Orleans as It Was. Episodes of Louisiana Life


Book Description

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.




French Book-plates


Book Description




The Secret History of the Jesuits


Book Description

Secrets the Jesuits don't want Christians to know Out of Europe, a voice is heard from the secular world that documents historically the same information told by ex-priests. The author exposes the Vatican's involvement in world politics, intrigues, and the fomenting of wars throughout history. It appears, beyond any doubt, that the Roman Catholic institution is not a Christian church and never was. The poor Roman Catholic people have been betrayed by her and are facing spiritual disaster. Paris shows that Rome is responsible for the two great world wars. Author Edmond Paris explains why he wrote this book... "The public is practically unaware of the overwhelming responsibility carried by the Vatican and its Jesuits in the start of the two world wars -- a situation which may be explained in part by the gigantic finances at the disposition of the Vatican and its Jesuits, giving them power in so many spheres, especially since the last conflict." "In fact, the part they took in those tragic events has hardly been mentioned until the present time, except by apologists eager to disguise it. It is with the aim of rectifying this and establishing the true facts that we present in this and other books the political activity of the Vatican during the contemporary -- activity which mutually concerns the Jesuits." "This study is based on irrefutable archive documents, publications from well-known political personalities, diplomats, ambassadors and eminent writers, most of whom are Catholics, even attested by the imprimatur."




Vodou in Haitian Life and Culture


Book Description

This collection introduces readers to the history and practice of the Vodou religion, and corrects many misconceptions. The book focuses specifically on the role Vodou plays in Haiti, where it has its strongest following, examining its influence on spiritual beliefs, cultural practices, national identity, popular culture, writing and art.




Lake Pavin


Book Description

This book represents the first multidisciplinary scientific work on a deep volcanic maar lake in comparison with other similar temperate lakes. The syntheses of the main characteristics of Lake Pavin are, for the first time, set in a firmer footing comparative approach, encompassing regional, national, European and international aquatic science contexts. It is a unique lake because of its permanently anoxic monimolimnion, and furthermore, because of its small surface area, its substantially low human influence, and by the fact that it does not have a river inflow. The book reflects the scientific research done on the general limnology, history, origin, volcanology and geological environment as well as on the geochemistry and biogeochemical cycles. Other chapters focus on the biology and microbial ecology whereas the sedimentology and paleolimnology are also given attention. This volume will be of special interest to researchers and advanced students, primarily in the fields of limnology, biogeochemistry, and aquatic ecology.