Book excerpt: Jean Lafitte left behind many a legend for generations to follow in thepages of Louisiana history. Treasure hunters still speculate about the site ofpirated loot buried under French Quarter homes or sunk in the Barataria swamps.His notorious reputation was born of tales like these of the blacksmith andsuspect pirate. But regardless of whatever the storytellers may repeat, thereis one legend that does survive the test of authenticity, the story of how JeanLafitte and his men were heroes at the Battle of New Orleans against theinvading British forces during the War of 1812.In The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans , authorRobert Tallant has given younger readers a chance to relive the excitement,romance, and thrill of those days when the Barataria pirates threatened rivertraffic and New Orleans felt the threat of seige by the British. Thisenthralling story from the pages of history is delightfully told with anemphasis on helping children understand the political events of the time aswell as the social climate of the city in the early-nineteenth century.The story reveals the speculative past of Lafitte and how he hid behind thefacade of his blacksmith's shop in the Vieux Carr . He held bittercontempt for his enemy Governor Claiborne until that famous battle, in whichthe pirate-turned-hero joined Gen. Andrew Jackson to protect the city from theincoming assault of British soldiers. Combining tales of pirates, mystery,battle, true events, and real people, this children's book is a thrillingchapter in American history.Robert Tallant (1909-1957) was one of Louisiana's best-known authors, andparticipated in the WPA Writers Project during the 1930s and 1940s. BesidesMardi Gras . . . As It Was, Tallant also wrote Voodoo in NewOrleans and The Voodoo Queen . With Lyle Saxon and EdwardDreyer he coauthored the famous collection Gumbo Ya-Ya: Folktales ofLouisiana.