Vestiges of Grandeur ─ The Plantations of Louisiana's River Road

In an evocative sequel to the acclaimed New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence, author and photographer Richard Sexton returns with an in-depth visual journey through the hidden mansions some inhabited, many now long abandoned of Louisiana's River Road. Bordering the Mississippi, these antebellum landmarks were once the epitome of gracious living in the Deep South. Over the past century, these grand dwellings have slowly succumbed to time, humidity, and the reclamation of the land: first by nature, then by real-estate developers who built subdivisions, oil refineries, and strip malls where curtains of Spanish moss once swayed from the live oaks. This collection featuring over 200 haunting color photographs with extensive captions explaining the architectural significance and history of each structure is a beautiful elegy for a rapidly disappearing landscape and its ghosts.

Richard Sexton is a New Orleans-based photographer, writer, and lecturer. He also teaches photography at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Accents, Garden Design, and Smithsonian. His many books include Vestiges of Grandeur (0-8118-1817-9) and Gardens of New Orleans (0-8118-2421-7).

Richard Sexton is a New Orleans-based photographer, writer, and lecturer. He also teaches photography at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Accents, Garden Design, and Smithsonian. His many books include Vestiges of Grandeur (0-8118-1817-9) and Gardens of New Orleans (0-8118-2421-7).

Alex MacLean is the author of Look at the Land and coauthor of Taking Measure across the American Landscape. He lives in the Boston area.