Anyone interested in the seedier side of N.O. history should check out “The French Quarter: An Informal History of the New Orleans Underground”, by Herbert Asbury (he’s the guy that wrote “Gangs of New York”). The book covers just about every wart and blemish in our city’s past, and gives pretty detailed accounts about the myriad of characters that were involved in murder, prostitution, thievery, insurrections, duels, etc. For those who have read Asbury’s more famous book about New York’s underworld (which has little similarity to the movie based upon it), it covers the same basic themes, though the criminal elements in New Orleans never could get organized well enough to form actual “gangs” (unless you count pirates and politicians). It’s crazy stuff. It sort of makes you realize that, even with all the shootings, muggings, drug dealing, etc., that terrorize our city nowadays, that’s an improvement on what it was like back in the day. And even if his facts are sometimes questionable, he hits it right more times than your average walking tour guide.

Related posts:

1. The Triumphant Return of Lucky Dogs
2. Go Go Gadget City Council
3. Sexy Cajun Cooking, Oh Yeah!
4. New Orleans for Dummies
5. Just thought I’d throw this out there…..