This Podcast Will Kill You Special Episode: Wendy Chin-Tanner & King of the Armadillos
Jul 15, 2025
Wendy Chin-Tanner, author and sociologist, shares insights from her novel, King of the Armadillos, which draws from her father's experiences with Hansen's disease. The discussion touches on the stigma of leprosy, the vibrant community formed in Carville, and how personal histories shape narratives. Wendy highlights the complexities of illness, advocacy, and resilience against societal fears, weaving a heartfelt tale of connection and memory through her creative process. Tune in for an inspiring journey through forgotten public health history.
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Rooted in Father's Story
- Wendy Chin-Tanner's novel "King of the Armadillos" is inspired by her father's experience with Hansen's disease in Carville, Louisiana.
- Her father was diagnosed at 16 and stayed there for nine years, shaping the book's protagonist Victor's story.
Carville's Surprising Beauty
- Carville, the leprosy treatment center, was surprisingly beautiful and welcoming, resembling a small liberal arts college.
- Wendy's father described it as a magical, mythic place despite its reality as a quarantine institution.
Stigma Silences History
- The stigma around Hansen's disease caused silence and taboo about Carville and patients' experiences.
- This has contributed to Carville's forgotten place in public health and social history in the U.S.
