Episode 246: An Author’s Fictional Take on the Acadian Great Upheaval

In the mid-1700’s, the Acadian people had been settled in the Nova Scotia region of Canada for over 100 years. When the area was transferred to the British, it was encouraged that the Acadian people take an oath of allegiance to the Crown. While many battles and political moments contributed – which is encouraged for everyone to research themselves – the unrest in the area lead to the British forcibly removing the Acadian people from their homes and lands, causing many to be deported and made to settle elsewhere. It is do to this moment – or The Great Upheaval – that Louisiana now has the Acadiana region and the vast number of Cajun descendants.

One person that can trace their roots to Nova Scotia is writer Marianne Sulser. Marianne has written a book titled “Like Snow Before Sun,” which takes a fictional approach to this time period, and a look into some real-life moments of the people that lived it. This week Marianne chats with me about her book and why she wanted to tell this story.