Description
Acadian Redemption – A New Historical Narrative
Acadian Redemption, the first biography of an Acadian exile, defines the 18th century society of Acadia into which Joseph Beausoleil Broussard was born in 1702. The book tells of his early life events and militant struggles with the British who had for years wanted to lay claim to the Acadians’ rich lands. Subsequent chapters discuss the epic odyssey during which Beausoleil led a group of one hundred ninety-three Acadians from Nova Scotia to Louisiana, the New Acadia, with the hope that his beloved Acadian culture would survive. The last half of the book discusses the repercussions of Beausoleil’s life that resulted in the evolution of the Acadian culture into what is now called the “Cajun” culture and how it led to an eighth generation Beausoleil descendant, Warren A. Perrin, to bring a Petition seeing an apology from the British Crown in 1990. This Petition was successfully resolved on December 9, 2003, by the signing of the Queen’s Royal Proclamation.
Edited by: Chris Segura
Historical Editor: Ryan Brasseaux
Introduction by: Mary Broussard Perrin
About the Author by: Gen. Curney J. Dronet
Forward by: Dr. William Arceneaux
Epilogue by: Dr. Shane K. Bernard
Photography by: Philip Gould and Kermit Bouillion
Cover art by: Lucius Fontenot and Raymond Credeur
Over 50 vintage photographs, maps and documents
- The book was named “Best History Book” of 2004 by the Louisiana Press Women’s Association.
- The new edition has increased the book size from 174 to 208 pages, and includes many additional documents.
- The book is supported by the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004, La Famille Beausoleil, CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana) and the Broussard Family Reunion of Nova Scotia.
- The author Warren A. Perrin is an attorney with the Lafayette law firm of Perrin Landry deLaunay, a Skills Professor at Loyola Law School, founder of the Acadian Museum of Erath and former President of CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana.
- The book contains an instructive 500-year chronology of influential historical events which helped to develop, shape and ultimately create the Cajun culture of Louisiana.
- The book contains a unique description of all of the flags that flew over the Acadians during their epic 400-year journey from France to Nova Scotia and ultimately Louisiana.
- Historical research for the book was provided by Dr. John Mack Faragher, Professor at Yale, the Arthur Unobskey Professor of American History; Maurice Basque, Directeur, Études acadiennes, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; and Alfred Silver, Nova Scotian historical author of “Three Hills Home,” a novel about the life of Beausoleil Broussard.
- The book contains artwork depicting Beausoleil, including Robert Dafford’s murals and editorial cartoons which have appeared in the United States, France and Canada.
- Lucius Fontenot, Lafayette artist, designed the Beausoleil image for the book cover (see above) and it has also been embossed upon T-shirts which are being sold in conjunction with the book.