Date of Award
1932
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Keywords
Historical Fiction, Colonial Louisiana, New Orleans, Spanish Colonial Period, French Colonial Period, Creole Society, Treaty of Paris, Acadian Exile, Louisiana Purchase History, French Creole Family
Abstract
This thesis, submitted to Xavier University in partial fulfillment of requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1932, presents a portion of an original historical novel titled "Tossed by Fortune," set in colonial New Orleans and Louisiana during the 1760s. The narrative follows Louis de Montaigne, a young French Creole nobleman, and his family as they experience the political upheaval surrounding the transfer of Louisiana from French to Spanish rule under the Treaty of Paris.
The excerpt traces events from the arrival of news of Louisiana's brief reannexation to France, through the formal cession of the colony to Spain, the public unrest and resistance of the colonists, the arrival of Spanish governor Antonio de Ulloa, and the growing tension between French colonists and Spanish authorities. The narrative also depicts the arrival of Acadian refugees exiled from Canada and their reception by New Orleans families, and follows Louis's personal involvement in the colonists' clandestine resistance activities. The work blends historical events and figures, including the Superior Council convention led by attorney-general Lafreniere, with fictional characters and domestic scenes to portray the social and political atmosphere of Louisiana during its transition between colonial powers.
Note: No original abstract was included; this abstract is provided by the XULA Digital Commons editors.
Recommended Citation
Rousseve, Rene J., "Part of Tossed by Fortune Historical Novel" (1932). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 115.
https://digitalcommons.xula.edu/etd/115