Although the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission partially funded this book, writer Carl A. Brasseaux (emeritus, history, U. of Louisiana at Lafayette) and photographer Philip Gould, also a resident of Louisiana, have clearly put their hearts into making it into something far more interesting and enticing than a lure for tourists. They offer a rich and nicely balanced presentation of photos and text exploring the physical and cultural landscapes of an incredibly diverse area of Louisiana. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)