SHREVEPORT, LA -- William Arceneaux of Baton Rouge will sign copies of his No Spark of Malice: The Murder of Martin Begnaud during two sessions Nov. 19 and 20 in Shreveport.
The signings are scheduled for 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Friday in the lobby of Centenary College's Hamilton Hall and from noon - 1 p.m. Saturday at Barnes and Noble, 6646 Youree Drive in Bayou Walk. At Centenary, books will be available for purchase at the reception through the College Store ($34.95 plus tax). In addition, refreshments will be served at a reception in Arceneaux's honor.
The LSU Press has nominated the book for the Pulitzer Prize as well as for the Bancroft Prize, two of the most distinguished awards available for titles in literary and historical nonfiction.
Arceneaux is perhaps best known as the president of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and as the former Louisiana commissioner of higher education. A native of Lafayette and of Acadian descent, Arceneaux earned his doctorate in history from Louisiana State University. In addition to his latest book, he is the author of Acadian General: Alfred Mouton and the Civil War, which received the Jefferson Davis Medal.
No Spark of Malice explores one of the most spectacular trials in American history following the 1896 murder of Martin Begnaud, whose brother was Arceneaux's great-great uncle. Begnaud, the owner of a Scott Station, La. general store was bound, gagged and stabbed more than 50 times. The killers stole $5,000 -- a small fortune in the late 19th century.
One review of the book states: "By its nature, this is a rather distasteful story -- the murder was viscious, and many people believed the killers got what they deserved -- but Arceneaux presents it as history, not true crime, and tells the tale with an historian's eye for detail."
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