More than just places for the dead, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and other cemeteries like it in New Orleans have served as wells of creative inspiration for a bevy of professional authors. With labyrinthine alleys of above-ground tombs and weathered statuary, hallowed grounds in New Orleans can be surprisingly powerful muses with long histories of popping up in modern films, literature, and art.
At these places, the past feels palpably present, and every cracked marble slab and fading inscription holds the promise of romantic, adventurous, and mysterious tales. More than just a site for individual and collective remembrance, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in particular remains a fertile ground for creative narration. This fact proves that, even in spots dedicated to the dead, the stories birthed out of them can bridge generations and keep the dynamic spirits of its inhabitants alive. Here are just a few examples of literary works that reference New Orleans cemeteries in their plot lines.
The Vampire Queen: Anne Rice’s Novels
A massive influence on twentieth century vampire lore, Anne Rice’s literary career is inextricably linked to the city of New Orleans, a connection that began with her 1941 birth. Though she spent a period of her adulthood away from the city, she and her husband returned in 1988, which marked the beginning of what would become a period of prolific writing deeply rooted in the “place” of New Orleans.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 specifically served as a moody setting for some of Rice’s most prolific stories. She was drawn to its “Cities of the Dead” aesthetic, where the above-ground tombs form narrow streets and evoke the sense of a city populated by spirits. Rice’s fascination with the cemetery’s history, particularly its association with historical figures like the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and its unique, claustrophobic atmosphere, directly influenced her storytelling. This inspiration is most prominently on display in The Queen of the Damned and other stories featuring her popular vampiric characters Lestat and Louis. Rice’s use of the cemetery as a tangible place where the dead and living intersect highlights central themes in her work: the visceral connections between past and present and the blurred lines separating life and death.
Crime Fiction Capers
New Orleans’ “Cities of the Dead” have long been a source of inspiration for crime fiction writers through settings that are both visually striking and rich with historical and cultural meaning. With maze-like paths of ornate tombs and dark recesses around nearly every corner, the city’s cemeteries evoke a powerful sense of atmosphere that is deeply gothic and mysterious by default. This distinct aesthetic allows authors to craft mysteries centered on ancient family crypts, long-buried secrets, or creepy tales of murder.
Numerous fictional crime authors have capitalized on the unique setting of New Orleans cemeteries. Julie Smith’s popular Skip Langdon series often uses the city’s burial places to great effect and grounds her modern-day mysteries in the broader New Orleans jurisdiction. Barbara Hambly’s Benjamin January series positions cemeteries as symbols for exploring racial and social tensions during the pre-Civil War era. Ray Celestin’s award-winning novel, The Axeman’s Jazz, also relies on the city’s pervasive sense of death and decay—which its cemeteries embody—to create a shadowy atmosphere for his historical crime story. At least in the realm of crime fiction, New Orleans’ cemeteries are cast in the role of frequent and silent witnesses to the city’s most enduring and darkest secrets.
Books About the Mysterious Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, is an undeniably rich subject of fascination for writers. Her mystique has served as material for both biographical and historical fiction works. Located in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, her tomb has long attracted pilgrims and curious visitors interested in her life and alleged spiritual prowess. The cemetery’s blend of Catholic and African spiritual traditions is a tangible reflection of Laveau’s own life and practice, which makes it an essential element in any book that seeks to capture her spirit.
Historical works have made significant strides in separating truth from Laveau folklore. Carolyn Morrow Long’s book, A New Orleans Voudou Priestess: The Legend and Reality of Marie Laveau meticulously uses archival records to reconstruct her life as a free woman of color, spiritual leader, and family matriarch. Similarly, Martha Ward’s Voodoo Queen: The Spirited Lives of Marie Laveau delves into the lives of both Laveau and her daughter, Marie Laveau II. When it comes to historical fiction, Jewell Parker Rhodes’s novel Voodoo Dreams: A Novel of Marie Laveau offers a fictionalized, yet deeply resonant, portrayal of her life. Rhodes explicitly described feeling inspired by the dozens of offerings left at Laveau’s tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. K.C. Kelley’s graphic novel The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans also tapped into the public fascination with Laveau’s tomb and portrayed it as a place where her spirit literally still resided.
Get Inspired at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 remains a classic example of the unique energy generated by New Orleans cemeteries. These places resonate with untold history that translates well into works of literature from various genres. Soak up the atmosphere yourself with an official guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Visit us in NOLA today!
