Acadian Redemption: From Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen’s Royal Proclamation

Acadian Redemption: From Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen’s Royal Proclamation, the first biography of an Acadian exile, defines the 18th century society of Acadia into which Joseph dit BeausoleilBroussard was born in 1702. The book tells of his early life events and militant struggles with the British who had for years wanted to lay claim to the Acadians’ rich lands. Subsequent chapters discuss the epic odyssey duringwhich Beausoleil led a group of one hundred ninety-three Acadians from Nova Scotia to Louisiana, the New Acadia, with the hope that his beloved Acadian culture would survive. The last half of the book discusses therepercussions of Beausoleil’s life that resulted in the evolution of the Acadian culture into what is now called the “Cajun” culture and how it led to an eighth generation Beausoleil descendant, Warren A. Perrin, to bring a Petitionseeking an apology from the British Crown in 1990. This Petition was successfully resolved on December 9, 2003, by the signing of the Queen’s Royal Proclamation. Alfred Silver, historical novelist and author of Three HillsHome, said about Acadian Redemption: “Warren A. Perrin brings to historical research a lawyer’s penchant to parse the difference between fact and speculation. Joseph Beausoleil Broussard was the kind of character who cantoo easily be shortchanged by stereotyping, and I’m sure Beausoleil is glad he finally got a good lawyer.” For a refreshing, unique perspective on the events that shaped Louisiana’s Cajun culture, read Acadian Redemption:From Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen’s Royal Proclamation.