Centenary College's Heritage Language Press Announces French Book

Shreveport, LA

Centenary's Les Editions Tintamarre, a heritage language press dedicated to the original printing and re-printing of American works written in any language other than English, has added yet another piece of literature to its growing library of works.

An annotated edition of the French book Octavia: Femme créole de la Nouvelle Orléans is now available online and in print thanks to the dedication of Dr. Dana Kress, Chair of the Foreign Language Department and Editor-in-Chief; Elena Hibbs '16, Chief Designer; and editors Carrie Lombardino '06; and Mary Greenwood '07.

Hibbs, a communication major with a concentration in design and new media, worked on the cover design for more than a month while making edits and studying the book design process.

"As Chief Designer, I am presented with the challenge of telling a complex story with just two pages," said Hibbs. "To convey the depth, tone, and perspective of a whole book in such a small space means that each word and image must be arranged with the utmost care. Working with artists, authors, and imagery I get to shape the reader's first impression. Manifesting a story visually allows me to connect to a work of literature in a unique way, and in the process I get to become a small part of its story. If I've done my job well, then I'm hoping these books will be judged by their covers."

Written by the late Sidonie de la Houssaye, Octavia tells a story of betrayal and revenge, causing the reader to question the notions of good and evil. Houssaye was an American French language writer who received a bilingual education in English and French while living in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana.

Les Editions Tintamarre is one of the many ways Centenary celebrates its rich French cultural and educational roots. Last year, Centenary expanded its focus on the French history of Louisiana and the College by launching Centenary in Paris, an immersive study program for first-year students. This August the College sent its entire 2014 entering class to Paris for immersive study at the start of the semester for 8 days to take courses taught by Centenary faculty members.

Centenary is also home to the only French language newspaper in the United States operated and written by students, Le Tintamarre.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College of Louisiana is a selective, residential, national liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South.