John Francois

Cajun Fire John Francois First edition

Marc Delaterre comes to Louisiana from France in 1848 believing that theaccumulation of material wealth will give him the independence he never had inhis own country. After exhaustive struggles against the fevers and heat of South Louisiana, and against his sworn enemy, hisfather-in-law, he wrests himself a plantation to begin his fight towardindependence. Facing him is Louisiana's move toward secession, which hestrongly opposes. When the war ultimately comes to the bayou country a yearlater, he does what he has to do to protect his plantation from its ravages. Hecollaborates with the enemy and arms his ex-slaves to defend themselves from amarauding lawless element known as jay hawkers. In the final, tumultuous months of the Civil War, when allis in chaos around him, when he thinks he has safely guided his plantationthrough the destructions of the war, he has to make a desperate choice when hefaces his murderous father-in-law and the vengeful jay hawkers to settle ablood feud.