Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics

By Michael L. Kurtz

Book Overview

In a region famous for its flamboyant politicians, Earl K. Long was one of the most flamboyant of them all. This first full-scale biography of the former Louisiana governor explores his controversial life-style and his strong family ties, his raw humor and his political savvy, his abuse of power and his accomplishments in the areas of civil rights and public services. Michael L. Kurtz and Morgan D. Peoples provide new information from recently declassified FBI files concerning Earl's ties with organized crime figures, give the first comprehensive account of his stays in mental institutions in 1959, and offer factual information about his notorious relationship with the stripper Blaze Star. Based on more than two decades of research in a variety of sources, this important biography fills a serious gap in the history of modern Louisiana politics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080711765X
• ISBN13: 9780807117651
• Release Date: December 1991
• Publisher: LSU Press
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Earl Long

I think the book was good.

The factual counterpart to Liebling's "Earl of Louisiana."

While A.J. Liebling kept his focus mainly to the gubernatorial campaign of 1959, this biography covers the span of Earl Kemp Long's life. Anyone who enjoyed the Liebling book is encouraged to read this one; it may be a bit more interested in historical fact, but with a subject like Earl Long, it can't keep from being humorous.