Lafcadio Hearn and Knowla.org, the online encyclopedia of Louisiana

Hearn House NOLA Cleveland Front, a photo by Infrogmation on Flickr.

Journalist and novelist Lafcadio Hearn, one of my noble horsemen, lived in New Orleans for nearly a decade, writing for newspapers about New Orleans and its environs. ,He covered, says Wikipedia, the city's Creole population and distinctive cuisine, the French Opera, and Louisiana Voodoo.

In the 1880's his articles for national publications such as Harper's and Scribner's helped create the reputation of New Orleans as a place with a distinct culture, one more akin to those of Europe and the Caribbean than to that of the rest of North America.

So when I noticed Knowla.org, I decided to use Hearn as litmus. It was not a bad bio. Though I must say that Wikipedia outdid Knowla on Hearn.

And, on a related topic, it appears that the La Endowment for the Humanities has another worthy project.

It is a book called A Unique Slant of Light: the Bicentennial History of Art in Louisiana.

Please see Leh.org for excerpts and order info.