Cajuns and Other Characters

Book excerpt: And that's for true! For decades, master raconteur Jim Bradshaw has regaled Louisiana readers with the witty, wistful, and weird in his weekly column, C'est Vrai. Collected here for the first time are stories about the characters of politics, poetry, business, show biz, and sports, along with criminals, eccentrics, soldiers, and more. A fistfight with Huey P. Long, how the name Breaux got its x, a bootlegging priest--these anecdotes and more unfold with a deft touch and a light heart. Bradshaw's charming take on all things Louisiana is a quirky romp through colorful characters and strange sights, highlighting the rich history, culture, and distinct flavor of Cajun country. Award-winning journalist Jim Bradshaw has spent almost fifty years making and breaking the news. He was an editor of the Lafayette (LA) Advertiser until 2008. Bradshaw continues to entertain in his column, C'est Vrai, still published by newspapers and Web sites across Louisiana.