Beautiful Crescent: A History of New Orleans - Paperback

by Mary Lou Widmer (Author)

Celebrate 300 years of New Orleans history!

Originally written by Joan B. Garvey and Mary Lou Widmer, this book is widely regarded as the definitive text for tourists, locals, teachers, and students. This concise history of the Crescent City contains chapters covering the Mississippi River, the city's founding, European rule, and more, updated with expanded jazz and African American sections. It is a must for every library and home, and for those who love New Orleans and its rich history.

Back Jacket

Praise for Beautiful Crescent: A History of New Orleans

"I heartily recommend Beautiful Crescent. It is clear, concise, and authentic, but not overpowering. A perfect reference book for students, teachers, tourists and native New Orleanians-a must for every library and home."
-Coralie G. Davis, library associate, UNO Library

"The list of governors, mayors, noted personalities, and the chronology make Beautiful Crescent an indispensible tool for tour guides-and indeed fun for everyone who loves New Orleans."
-Jane Molony, training committee, Friends of the Cabildo

"Beautiful Crescent is a must in every tour guide's library. The Tour Guide Association of Greater New Orleans endorses and applauds this latest update and revision."
-Suzanne Wooderson, president, Tour Guide Association of Greater New Orleans, Inc.

This concise history of the Crescent City contains chapters covering the diverse history of the area, including the city's founding; the days of European rule; origins of jazz; the lasting impact of slavery; the Creole and Cajun influences; the mighty Mississippi River; lists of notable figures, governors, and mayors; and much more.

Author Biography

As a child, Mary Lou Widmer was entertained by the Sunday night vaudeville-style shows at City Park. She whiled away the summers blithely stringing clover necklaces and feasting on nickel snowballs that turned her tongue different colors. Her deep sense of family was fostered by the fact that her parents, brother, and both sets of grandparents lived in various parts of the same two-story double. Maybe that's why she favors Hallmark-type family stories; although she grew up during the Depression, Widmer has sweet memories of a simple childhood in her native New Orleans. Her popular historical series began as her reminiscences in print so that others might relive their own memories of New Orleans at that time. Widmer graduated from Loyola University and then became a high-school teacher of English, journalism, and history. She also has served as the president of the South Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers and has written several articles featured in New Orleans publications. She is a certified descendant of settlers in the area prior to the Louisiana Purchase and is a member of the Louisiana Colonials and the Daughters of 1812. She considers Rosamunde Pilcher her favorite author and enjoys reading suspense, historical novels, and family-based stories. Widmer, a mother of two and a grandmother of four, resides in Kenner, Louisiana. Mary Lou Widmer has an extensive writing background, including New Orleans in the Twenties, New Orleans in the Thirties, New Orleans in the Forties, New Orleans in the Fifties, New Orleans in the Sixties, and Margaret, Friend of Orphans.