New Books Network T. R. Johnson, "New Orleans: A Writer's City" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Jan 6, 2026
T. R. Johnson, an English professor at Tulane University and community jazz DJ, discusses his book *New Orleans: A Writer's City*. He explores the city’s rich literary history, from the Creole culture of Royal Street to St. Claude Avenue’s bohemian roots. Johnson highlights how jazz and music intertwine with memory on Esplanade Avenue and delves into the legacy of Storyville on Basin Street. He also shares his insights on the role of swamps in literature and suggests entry points for newcomers to New Orleans' vibrant cultural narrative.
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How Katrina Sparked A Scholarly Turn
- T. R. Johnson moved to New Orleans nearly 25 years ago and began teaching a literature of New Orleans class after Hurricane Katrina.
- That course developed into his expertise and led to edited collections and ultimately this book for general readers.
Streets As Living Memorials
- Johnson kept theoretical ideas 'behind the curtain' to write for general readers rather than specialists.
- He focused the book on streets as living memorials that shape daily life and literary meanings.
Royal Street As Literary Ground Zero
- Johnson opens the book with Royal Street because it is where New Orleans' literary tradition first concentrated in the Vieux Carré.
- He links figures like John Howard Griffin, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Faulkner and others to Royal's blocks from Canal to Esplanade.
