Voodoo Dreams

January 16, 1995
NEA Fiction Award winner Rhodes's first novel brings to life a legendary 19th-century voodoo priestess.

The power of voodoo and its ability to survive one who would use this for his own glorification lies at the core of this fictionalized biography of Marie Lauveau. Touching on racial imbalances in 1800 New Orleans, it focuses on bringing alive a religious tradition that took root in the New World by being passed from mother to daughter. Peter Francis James's voice is filled with the power of his characters. The melodic cadences of West African speech, the flat accent of a transplanted Yankee, and the drawl of the white, decadent native of New Orleans are just some of the techniques he uses to set his characters apart and enliven the story. James catches the essence of the frenzied worship of Lauveau's followers as they chant her name. He portrays the fear and insecurities of this voodoo queen, who grows from a young girl unsure of her power to a powerful woman. This production gives the listener the pleasure of hearing a powerful and intriguing story read by a master. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine