Kingfish of The Lodge: The Extraordinary Governorship of Huey P. Long

by Tyler Lucas

When Huey Long raised his right hand to take the governor's oath of office, Louisiana, and the nation, would never be the same. Serving as chief executive from 1928 to 1932, Long ushered in a new era for the Bayou State, an era in which the hegemonic coalition of planters and industrialists was replaced with an administration that finally gave a voice to the people of Louisiana. Assiduously accumulating and masterfully wielding power, Huey Long achieved vast results that profoundly changed the lives of countless Louisianans while also amassing the greatest concentration of power over one state the nation had ever seen.

But was his all-consuming quest for power detrimental to democracy in Louisiana? Though much of society benefited from his reforms, politics in Louisiana undoubtedly took a turn for the worse as corruption, stolen elections, and rampant power abuses became a common fact of life under the Kingfish's rule. Gracefully written and well researched, Kingfish of The Lodge delves into these questions while also providing a vivid history of America's most extraordinary governorship.

Foreword by The Honorable Mary Jo Jacobi, f ormer Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former Special Assistant to the President of the United States.

132 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

Reviews

[Truman Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kingfish of The Lodge is a marvelously well-written account of Huey Long's time as Governor of Louisiana. Historian Tyler Lucas begins with a detailed examination of the social and political currents that allowed for the incredible rise of Long to the governor's mansion. He then documents all the vast achievements and skillful political maneuverings that Long used in order to create the largest concentration of power over one state the nation had ever seen. Through it all, Lucas remains fair to both Long and his enemies. He certainly gives a well balanced history of what really occurred without letting any sort of partisanship or favoritism get in the way as has happened so often with biographies of Huey Long. Overall, this is a highly well researched and written book that is a must read for anyone interest in American political history!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kingfish of the Lodge” by Tyler Lucas is a masterful exploration of leadership, power dynamics, and the complexities of ambition. Lucas skillfully weaves a narrative that captivates readers from start to finish, blending vivid storytelling with sharp political insight. His portrayal of characters is nuanced, revealing both their strengths and vulnerabilities, making them deeply relatable.

The book’s themes of loyalty, integrity, and the pursuit of influence resonate on multiple levels, providing both an engaging read and a thought-provoking reflection on leadership in modern society. Whether you’re interested in politics, personal development, or just a compelling story, Kingfish of the Lodge delivers on all fronts. Highly recommend! Five stars!

[Josh Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book and I greatly enjoyed reading it! Tyler Lucas has written a very engaging history of Huey Long that illuminates several aspects about the Kingfish that have not come to light in many decades. It is a deeply researched and well balanced book on quite possibly the greatest gubernatorial administration in American history. I particularly enjoyed reading about Long's rise from his humble beginnings in Winn Parish, Louisiana to him amassing an almost dictatorial amount of power over the Bayou State. This is certainly a biography that is fit for a personality as large as the Kingfish!

[jmc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an amazing historical biography. Lucas does an incredible job covering the dramatic reign of Huey Long. Lucas has a head start to becoming one of the great biographers of his generation. Don’t take it from me, take it from great historian and author, Andrew Roberts, who endorsed this book.

[Eliana Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining and deeply informative book! I high recommend it!

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, nothing new here. Probably a good introduction to many as it is short and most people have never heard of Huey.