Rien Fertel

Rien Fertel is a Louisiana-born writer, historian, and professor who teaches at Tulane University and Bard Early College New Orleans. He is the author of four nonfiction books, including 'Inventing the Creole City' on early New Orleans literature, a personal narrative on barbecue, and 'Brown Pelican' (2022), a human history of the brown pelican. Fertel writes for publications like the New Orleans Times-Picayune/Louisiana Advocate, where he serves as biweekly book critic, and contributes to outlets such as Southern Living and Saveur.