History of Louisiana, The

Franï¿1/2ois Xavier Martin records the earliest periods of Louisiana history with special emphasis on the events of 1803-15. As a judge in Louisiana in the early 1800s, Martin was able to observe the state and its politics firsthand. He drew upon his own experiences as well as the work and writings of other authorities on the topic to craft a detailed look at the state from the time of Hernando de Soto through the start of the nineteenth century. Since Martin was sympathetic to the Creole population and committed to the U.S. government, his history presents a well-balanced picture of the times.Originally published in 1827, The History of Louisiana has been heralded as the first history of Louisiana that merits this name. Other historians, such as Charles Gayarrï¿1/2, Louisiana's most outstanding nineteenth-century historian, have found value in Martin's influential book. Expansive, meticulous, and fascinating, this work represents an important contribution to the historical study of America's eighteenth state.