Hit the gas and join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we roll into Louisiana on American Stories: A Reading Road Trip! Join us on November 5th at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT for a PBS Books Facebook Live event, or on the PBS Books YouTube channel, the PBS app, or pbs.org. Visit pbsbooks.org/readingroadtrip to learn more.
Step into a literary heritage as rich and soulful as a bowl of gumbo. From George Washington Cable’s The Grandissimes and Grace King’s Balcony Stories, which sought to capture Creole life, to Ernest J. Gaines’s powerful reflections in A Lesson Before Dying and Shirley Ann Grau’s Pulitzer Prize–winning The Keepers of the House, Louisiana writers have long explored themes of identity, justice, and belonging. Even Anne Rice transformed the mystique of New Orleans into the hauntingly gothic world of Interview with the Vampire.
Hear from celebrated contemporary voices who capture the heart and rhythm of Louisiana today. Farrah Rochon shares how she uses Louisiana as a character in all her stories including the Bayou Dreams Series, while Maurice Carlos Ruffin shines a light on underrepresented voices in The American Daughters. Author-illustrator William Joyce celebrates imagination in The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, and poet Julie Kane, in Rhythm & Booze, distills the wit and musicality of New Orleans into verse. Together, they remind us that in Louisiana, stories don’t just live on the page—they dance, sing, and celebrate the soul of a place like no other.
The trip doesn’t end there- Along the way visit the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library- housed in a beautiful and historic mansion, stop into a handful of celebrated independently owned bookstores, visit the French Quarter where you might hear someone shouting, “Stella!” from the balcony, and peek into the renowned and haunted Hotel Monteleon. These literary landmarks and so many others showcase the vast and influential history of Louisiana.
About American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
Pack your curiosity —PBS Books is hitting the road! In partnership with the Library of Congress Centers for the Book, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip shines a spotlight on individual U.S. states and select territories to uncover their one-of-a-kind literary treasures.
From iconic authors and unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way, we’ll meet bestselling authors, passionate booksellers, and local storytellers —plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state’s Center for the Book —revealing how their corner of America has left its mark on the nation’s imagination. Aligned with America’s 250th birthday, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart, history, and creative spirit of the United States —all through the lens of books and storytelling.
New episodes will stream on select Wednesdays at 8pm EST as PBS Books Facebook Live event, and on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States –and extensive materials from around the world –both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
About PBS Books
PBS Books is a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading. PBS Books is dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.Visit pbsbooks.org, subscribe to the PBS Books YouTube channel, and follow PBS Books on social media to learn more.
