Delia LaBarre, editor of Lafcadio Hearn's novel CHITA: A MEMORY OF LAST ISLAND (University Press of Mississippi), says the re-issued book has an urgent connection with today's Louisiana.
On 10 August 1856, the Gulf of Mexico reared up and hurled itself over Last Island, near New Orleans. The storm essentially split the island in half and swept much of it away, including its inhabitants, wealthy vacationers, and its resort hotel. There were few survivors.
Lafcadio Hearn used these basic historical facts to create Chita.
"This new edition is issued at a time when Louisiana, and other states that border the Gulf of Mexico, are increasingly aware of the disappearance of our barrier islands and coastal marshlands," LaBarre writes. "Descriptions of these losses we face today but that were written in the late 1880s by Lafcadio Hearn during his months on Grand Isle may be surprising to readers unfamiliar with Hearn's works."
Originally published in 1889, this long out-of-print novella is a minor masterpiece that is by turns mysterious, mesmerizing, and tragic. In the aftermath of the storm, a Spanish fisherman wades into the Gulf to pick through debris. Among the bodies, he finds one that is yet alive, a small Creole girl. She remembers only her first name, Conchita. Her parents are presumed to have died in the storm.Raised by the fisherman's family, Chita grows into a strong, independent young woman. Her story is counterpointed by that of her lost father, a doctor who thinks that Chita is dead and, as a result, devotes himself to helping others in need. When he comes to Last Island to aid a man with heart disease, he encounters Chita. The consequences are devastating.
This beautifully lush, ornately styled tale of south Louisiana in the nineteenth century is a haunting novel that is both impressionistic in its evocation of nature and realistic in its characterizations and depictions of life in this region.
On 10 August 1856, the Gulf of Mexico reared up and hurled itself over Last Island, near New Orleans. The storm essentially split the island in half and swept much of it away, including its inhabitants, wealthy vacationers, and its resort hotel. There were few survivors.
Lafcadio Hearn used these basic historical facts to create Chita.
"This new edition is issued at a time when Louisiana, and other states that border the Gulf of Mexico, are increasingly aware of the disappearance of our barrier islands and coastal marshlands," LaBarre writes. "Descriptions of these losses we face today but that were written in the late 1880s by Lafcadio Hearn during his months on Grand Isle may be surprising to readers unfamiliar with Hearn's works."
Originally published in 1889, this long out-of-print novella is a minor masterpiece that is by turns mysterious, mesmerizing, and tragic. In the aftermath of the storm, a Spanish fisherman wades into the Gulf to pick through debris. Among the bodies, he finds one that is yet alive, a small Creole girl. She remembers only her first name, Conchita. Her parents are presumed to have died in the storm.Raised by the fisherman's family, Chita grows into a strong, independent young woman. Her story is counterpointed by that of her lost father, a doctor who thinks that Chita is dead and, as a result, devotes himself to helping others in need. When he comes to Last Island to aid a man with heart disease, he encounters Chita. The consequences are devastating.
This beautifully lush, ornately styled tale of south Louisiana in the nineteenth century is a haunting novel that is both impressionistic in its evocation of nature and realistic in its characterizations and depictions of life in this region.
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Used availability for Lafcadio Hearn's Chita
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Hardback Editions
August 2011 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4638-9759-6 / 978-1-4638-9759-8 Publisher: Aegypan Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 2010 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-163-47559-9 / 978-1-163-47559-1 Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
July 2008 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4378-3225-3 / 978-1-4378-3225-9 Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 2007 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-548-17109-2 / 978-0-548-17109-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2003 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island (Banner Book) Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-57806-558-5 / 9781578065585 (USA edition) Publisher: University Press of Mississippi Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2003 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4043-4644-9 / 978-1-4043-4644-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1999 : Library Binding
| Title: Chita, A Memory Of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-7812-0134-9 / 978-0-7812-0134-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Reprint Services Corp Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1989 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Harper & Brothers (1889) Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1986 : Hardback
| Title: Chita : A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group Availability: Amazon More details... |
June 1969 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-404-03204-4 / 978-0-404-03204-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Ams Pr Inc Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1952 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory Of Last Island. Author(s): Lafcadio: Hearn Publisher: Carl F. Braun Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
1949 : Hardback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Carl F. Braun Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1938 : Hardback
| Title: Chita; A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: New York Harper & Brothers Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1917 : Hardback
| Title: CHITA: A MEMORY OF LAST ISLAND Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Harper & Brothers Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
January 2012 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: a memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: University of Toronto Libraries Availability: Amazon More details... |
July 2011 : Paperback
| Title: Chita; A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4637-0237-X / 978-1-4637-0237-3 Publisher: CreateSpace Availability: Amazon More details... |
June 2011 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4638-0098-3 / 978-1-4638-0098-7 Publisher: Aegypan Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-171-73175-2 / 978-1-171-73175-7 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-163-08853-6 / 978-1-163-08853-1 Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-178-43317-X / 978-1-178-43317-3 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
August 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-177-57430-6 / 978-1-177-57430-3 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
June 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island (Classic Reprint) Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4510-0158-4 / 978-1-4510-0158-7 Publisher: Forgotten Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
March 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita; A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-153-59545-1 / 978-1-153-59545-2 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-146-40023-3 / 978-1-146-40023-7 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-147-35677-7 / 978-1-147-35677-9 Publisher: Nabu Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
February 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-145-14074-2 / 978-1-145-14074-5 Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2010 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4076-4224-3 / 978-1-4076-4224-6 (UK edition) Publisher: HardPress Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2009 : Paperback
| Title: Chita Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-217-33863-1 / 978-0-217-33863-9 Publisher: General Books LLC Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4378-3218-0 / 978-1-4378-3218-1 Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Chita A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-60424-612-X / 9781604246124 (USA edition) Publisher: Standard Publications, Inc Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island (Dodo Press) Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4065-4431-0 / 978-1-4065-4431-2 (UK edition) Publisher: Dodo Press Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
April 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4068-1756-2 / 978-1-4068-1756-0 (UK edition) Publisher: The Echo Library Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2007 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory Of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4304-6898-X / 978-1-4304-6898-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Co Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4069-4252-9 / 978-1-4069-4252-1 (UK edition) Publisher: Hard Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2003 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-4043-4645-7 / 978-1-4043-4645-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 2001 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-56554-971-6 / 9781565549715 (USA edition) Publisher: Firebird Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
July 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Chita a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 1-58396-515-7 / 9781583965153 (USA edition) Publisher: Blue Unicorn Editions Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1969 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island (Chapel Hill Books) Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-8078-4039-4 / 978-0-8078-4039-9 (USA edition) Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1961 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: CHITA A MEMORY OF LAST ISLAND Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Fawcett Paperback Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1952 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory Of Last Island. Author(s): Lafcadio: Hearn Publisher: Carl F. Braun Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
January 1917 : Paperback
| Title: Chita: A Memory Of Last Island Author(s): Hearn Lafcadio Publisher: Book on Demand Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
Other Editions
October 2010 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Hearn Lafcadio Publisher: pubOne.info Availability: Amazon More details... |
October 2010 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: B&R Samizdat Express Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
August 2010 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Availability: Amazon More details... |
March 2010 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
November 2009 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: ValdeBooks Availability: Amazon More details... |
October 2009 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Public Domain Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
August 2009 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: a Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Availability: Amazon More details... |
August 2006 : Kindle edition
| Title: Chita: A Memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: indypublish.com Availability: Amazon More details... |
1970 : Unknown
| Title: Chita: a memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn ISBN: 0-403-00624-4 / 978-0-403-00624-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Scholarly Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
1961 : Unknown
| Title: Chita: A memory of Last Island (A Premier classic of American realism) Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: Fawcett Publications Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
1952 : Unknown
| Title: Chita;: A memory of Last Island Author(s): Lafcadio Hearn Publisher: C.F. Braun & Co Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
January 1917 : Unknown
| Title: CHITA : A MEMORY OF LAST ISLAND Author(s): LAFCADIO HEARN Publisher: Harper & Brothers Availability: Amazon More details... |
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