Voodoo Queen : The Spirited Lives of Marie Laveau - Martha Ward

Voodoo Queen: The Spirited Lives of Marie Laveau
Winner of the Eudora Welty Prize

Discover the true story behind New Orleans’ most legendary figures — the two Marie Laveaus, mother and daughter. Voodoo Queen explores their powerful influence as spiritual leaders, free women of color, and protectors of their community in 19th-century New Orleans.

Through dance, ritual, and resilience, the Laveaus shaped the city’s imagination and challenged injustice with courage and faith. This compelling history blends mystery, myth, and magic to uncover who the real Marie Laveau was — and what secrets lie within her famous tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.