Hurricane Katrina Book Compared to Pulitzer-winner 'A Confederacy of Dunces'

"The Five People You Meet in Hell: Surviving Katrina" is a first-person account of the storm and her aftermath in New Orleans. Told by longtime resident Robert Smallwood, the story, "... reads like (Pulizer-winning) 'A Confederacy of Dunces,' with its oddball characters," according to David Martin Davies of Texas Public Radio.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) August 23, 2006 -- "The Five People You Meet in Hell: Surviving Katrina" a New Orleans best-selling book, is a first-person account of the storm and her aftermath in New Orleans. Told by longtime resident Robert Smallwood, the story, "... reads like 'A Confederacy of Dunces,' with its oddball characters," according to a recent broadcast on Texas Public Radio. The observation refers to the American comic novel written by New Orleanian John Kennedy Toole, who committed suicide after failing to get the book published. It ultimately won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1981. The comedic masterpiece "... bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures," says Henry Kisor of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Poet Dave Brinks, recently featured on PBS for his poetry series in New Orleans commented on Smallwood's writing style, "Smallwood does things writers have forgotten how to do. The dialogue just stacks up and stacks up to give us a clear view of the characters."

Similarly, Smallwood's nonfiction novel is laced with low and high humor but also suspense and action. It is the only book-length first person account of the storm and aftermath in New Orleans. It goes inside the thoughts, conversations and decisions of French Quarter residents amongst the looting, gunfire, fires and explosions in the French Quarter and downtown New Orleans. The "five people" include comic actor Harry Anderson, star of the TV sitcom Night Court; a salty, 81 year-old sailor and others.

The book also includes 27 original photos and was recently updated to include the recovery effort.

Smallwood is currently on a 21-city book tour. He will be at Borders in Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Texas on August 24, 25 and 26, and then appears with Katrina authors including Doug Brinkley at a Press Club of New Orleans event Sunday, August 27 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown New Orleans.

For interview requests or review copies please contact Robert Smallwood at 504-324-2340 or NewOrleansRobert @ Yahoo.com.

# # #