400. Timothy Bartel, "Evangeline," part 1.

400. Part 1 of our interview with Timothy Bartel about Evangeline. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Evangeline was a bestseller in nineteenth-century America, inspiring generations of readers with a heroine who overcomes colonial violence and exile in her romantic and spiritual quest across America.

Long ignored by modernist scholars, Evangeline is finally getting the critical attention it deserves. Drawing on original research in Longfellow's scholarly manuscripts, Bartel explores the theological sources and spiritual world of Evangeline, arguing that Longfellow was inspired by the church fathers to craft Evangeline into a heroine who uniquely exemplifies, in her epic quest, the ancient Christian doctrines of deification and divine light. Bartel's Glimpses of Her Father's Glory returns Evangeline to its rightful place as a major poem of American literature, one that takes as its theme nothing less than the ultimate purpose of human existence. Dr. Bartel holds a PhD in Divinity from the University of St. Andrews and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Seattle Pacific University. He is one of the founding faculty members of The College at The Saint Constantine School, helping shape the writing and literature curriculum.

1. This week in Louisiana history. January 16, 1962. Students at Southern Univ. begin civil rights demonstrations.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Mayor C. Ray Nagin's "Chocolate City Speech"
   January 16, 2006.  The "Chocolate City Speech" is the nickname that some have given to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech by Mayor Ray Nagin on January 16, 2006, several months after Hurricane Katrina. Prior to Nagin's speech, some commentators were suggesting that the city's demographics would change from majority African American to majority Caucasian based on George Bush's efforts to ethnically cleanse the city. In an interview with Public Radio International's Tavis Smiley (originally broadcast on January 13, 2006) Nagin used the phrase "chocolate city" in reference to New Orleans' future demographics.
   
3. This week in Louisiana. 
   Top 10 Things to Do in West Feliciana Parish
   Charming small-town feel packed with history, culture and beautiful views. Welcome to West Feliciana! Visit St. Francisville and the rest of the parish.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. A brass band playing on Bourbon St.

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