"Set in the turbulent times of the American twentieth century, Dubus describes the years of 1933-1945 from the viewpoint of a girl growing up in southwest Louisiana, a unique region of manners, mores, daily lives, frequent celebrations, and diverse food of both the French and Cajun settlers. The recipes from the author's family and friends are lagniappe to be enjoyed again and again. Dubus describes a childhood filled with relatives ranging from eccentric Aunt Gabe to a no-nonsense Scottish grandmother, all of whom considered education and the character to use it the most important gifts adults could give to children. Sprinkled among the lessons are stories of adventures with neighborhood children, adolescent growing pains, teen escapades, glimpses into her Catholic education, ice cream socials, and picnics, all under the watchful and amused eyes of a close knit community"--

Step Back in Time and Experience the Charms of Old New Orleans with Eliza Ripley's Memoir Transport yourself to the enchanting world of old New Orleans with 'Social Life in Old New Orleans: Being Recollections of My Girlhood' by Eliza Ripley. Through the vivid recollections of her girlhood, Ripley offers readers a glimpse into a bygone era filled with romance, intrigue, and Southern charm. Experience the Splendor of Antebellum New Orleans 'Social Life in Old New Orleans' invites readers to step back in time to the antebellum South, where the streets of New Orleans teemed with life, culture, and opulence. Through Ripley's evocative prose, you'll wander through the grand ballrooms of the French Quarter, stroll along the banks of the Mississippi River, and mingle with the city's elite in their stately mansions. From elaborate social gatherings to intimate family moments, Ripley captures the essence of life in old New Orleans with charm and nostalgia. Whether attending lavish cotillions, sampling Creole cuisine, or simply enjoying the company of friends and family on a lazy afternoon, each page is filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of a bygone era. Meet the Colorful Characters of Old New Orleans At the heart of 'Social Life in Old New Orleans' are its colorful characters—aristocrats and artists, debutantes and dandies, slaves and socialites—all brought to life with warmth and affection by Ripley's pen. From her own family members to the colorful personalities she encountered in New Orleans society, Ripley's memoir is populated with a cast of unforgettable characters who will capture your imagination and your heart. Through their stories and interactions, Ripley paints a rich tapestry of antebellum New Orleans, highlighting the complexities of race, class, and culture in the pre-Civil War South. As you follow the ups and downs of their lives, you'll find yourself drawn into a world of passion, intrigue, and drama that feels as vibrant and alive today as it did over a century ago. Why 'Social Life in Old New Orleans' Is a Timeless Classic: Historical Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of antebellum New Orleans and Southern culture through Eliza Ripley's firsthand accounts and vivid descriptions. Captivating Narratives: Lose yourself in the captivating stories and anecdotes of old New Orleans society, brought to life with warmth, humor, and nostalgia. Cultural Significance: Explore the social customs, traditions, and values of a bygone era, and discover how they continue to shape the fabric of New Orleans society today. Personal Reflection: Experience the joys, sorrows, triumphs, and challenges of Eliza Ripley's girlhood through her intimate and heartfelt recollections.Don't miss your chance to experience the splendor and romance of old New Orleans with 'Social Life in Old New Orleans: Being Recollections of My Girlhood' by Eliza Ripley. Whether you're a history buff, a lover of memoirs, or simply curious about life in the antebellum South, this timeless classic is sure to captivate and enchant readers of all ages.

With a series of lyrical vignettes Eileen M. Julien traces her life as an African American woman growing up in middle-class New Orleans in the 1950s and 1960s. Julien's narratives focus on her relationship with her mother, family, community, and the city itself, while touching upon life after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Haunted by a colonial past associated with African presence, racial mixing, and suspect rituals, New Orleans has served the national imagination as a place of exoticism where objectionable people and unsavory practices can be found. The destruction of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath revealed New Orleans' deep poverty and marginalized population, and brought a media storm that perpetuated the city's stigma. Travels with Mae lovingly restores the wonder of this great city, capturing both its beauty and its pain through the eyes of an insider.

Scarlett's Sisters explores the meaning of nineteenth-century southern womanhood from the vantage point of the celebrated fictional character's flesh-and-blood counterparts: young, elite, white women. Anya Jabour demonstrates that southern girls and young women faced a major turning point when the Civil War forced them to assume new roles and responsibilities as independent women. Examining the lives of more than 300 girls and women between ages fifteen and twenty-five, Jabour traces the socialization of southern white ladies from early adolescence through young adulthood. Amidst the upheaval of the Civil War, Jabour shows, elite young women, once reluctant to challenge white supremacy and male dominance, became more rebellious. They adopted the ideology of Confederate independence in shaping a new model of southern womanhood that eschewed dependence on slave labor and male guidance. By tracing the lives of young white women in a society in flux, Jabour reveals how the South's old social order was maintained and a new one created as southern girls and young women learned, questioned, and ultimately changed what it meant to be a southern lady.

What was it like to grow up black and female in the segregated South? To answer this question, LaKisha Simmons blends social history and cultural studies, recreating children's streets and neighborhoods within Jim Crow New Orleans and offering a rare look into black girls' personal lives. Simmons argues that these children faced the difficult task of adhering to middle-class expectations of purity and respectability even as they encountered the daily realities of Jim Crow violence, which included interracial sexual aggression, street harassment, and presumptions of black girls' impurity. Simmons makes use of oral histories, the black and white press, social workers' reports, police reports, girls' fiction writing, and photography to tell the stories of individual girls: some from poor, working-class families; some from middle-class, "respectable" families; and some caught in the Jim Crow judicial system. These voices come together to create a group biography of ordinary girls living in an extraordinary time, girls who did not intend to make history but whose stories transform our understanding of both segregation and childhood.