The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans

Jean Lafitte left behind many a legend for generations to follow in the pages of Louisiana history. Treasure hunters still speculate about the site of pirated loot buried under French Quarter homes or sunk in the Barataria swamps. His notorious reputation was born of tales like these of the blacksmith and suspect pirate. But regardless of whatever the storytellers may repeat, there is one legend that does survive the test of authenticity, the story of how Jean Lafitte and his men were heroes at the Battle of New Orleans against the invading British forces during the War of 1812. In The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans, author Robert Tallant has given younger readers a chance to relive the excitement, romance, and thrill of those days when the Barataria pirates threatened river traffic and New Orleans felt the threat of seige by the British. This enthralling story from the pages of history is delightfully told with an emphasis on helping children understand the political events of the time as well as the social climate of the city in the early-nineteenth century. The story reveals the speculative past of Lafitte and how he hid behind the facade of his blacksmith's shop in the Vieux Carr . He held bitter contempt for his enemy Governor Claiborne until that famous battle, in which the pirate-turned-hero joined Gen. Andrew Jackson to protect the city from the incoming assault of British soldiers. Combining tales of pirates, mystery, battle, true events, and real people, this children's book is a thrilling chapter in American history. Robert Tallant (1909-1957) was one of Louisiana's best-known authors, and participated in the WPA Writers Project during the 1930s and 1940s. Besides Mardi Gras . . . As It Was, Tallant also wrote Voodoo in New Orleans and The Voodoo Queen . With Lyle Saxon and Edward Dreyer he coauthored the famous collection Gumbo Ya-Ya: Folktales of Louisiana .