Very New Orleans: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Cajun Country Charm

by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

The exquisite antebellum mansions of the Garden District. Giant oaks stretching across boulevards and back in time to before the Civil War. The decadence of Bourbon Street. The vibrant sounds of jazz, blues, and Cajun music coming from every doorway or right from the street. Lacy iron balconies that wrap around the historic buildings of the French Quarter. A leisurely meal under a canopy of wisteria.

In vibrant watercolors and detailed sketches, artist Diana Gessler captures the unique charm that makes New Orleans alluring: Mardi Gras, the Cabildo, Jackson Square, the Court of the Two Sisters, St. Louis Cemetery, the Jazz Festival, the River Road Plantations, the Cajun country, sumptuous Creole cuisine, and Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas. In fascinating detail—on everything from the making of Mardi Gras, Napolean’s death mask, the city’s inspired architectural and garden designs, and favorite author hangouts to famous New Orleanians and Aunt Sally’s Creole pralines—Very New Orleans celebrates the city, the Cajun country, the people, and our history

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History, Art, Reference

168 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2005

About the author

Diana Hollingsworth Gessler is the author and illustrator of Very New Orleans, Very Charleston, and Very California. Her watercolors and oil paintings are represented by Shaw Gallery in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida. She and her husband live in Melbourne, Florida, when theyre not traveling."

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very New Orleans

A delightful book on New Orleans. I enjoyed reading as well as admiring the artistic offerings this book features.
Different selections of the city are featured along with a smattering of history.
I have wanted to visit this remarkable city and this book just made that desire more intense.
I will definitely be purchasing other books by Diana Hollingsworth Gressler.

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet little keeper of a book. I've never been to New Oreleans, but my husband has...on Mardi Gras...yeah he saw ladies waving their tahs tahs around, said it was crazy. But this little book has very nice watercolor sketches, being an artist I loved how it was done, not your typical guidebook and it's more like a keepsake for those who had already been there. I'm keeping it for artistic reasons.

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Gessler’s book, the author celebrates the Big Easy in watercolors, drawings, and fascinating little known facts about New Orleans. A wonderful celebration of a classic.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

cool look at New Orleans with colorful beautiful artwork

[Rosemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book!

The watercolor illustrations are so cozy and charming. The info on NOLA is great. The book is divided into the various sections of the city and each section highlights the main attractions in that section.

I found this book during a visit to NOLA this past summer. I visited Frenchmen Street Art & Books - a delightful little independent bookshop on the outskirts of the French Quarter. The book's smaller size also makes it a great souvenir of your trip to The Big Easy!

I highly recommend the book itself, as well as a visit to Frenchmen Street Art & Books if you are ever in New Orleans.

[Kellea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! It's interesting because, while you know this was a book most likely aimed at grown ups, it reminded you of being back in grade school, because the author, Diana Hollingsworth Gessler, illustrated the entire book, making you think you were perusing through a picture book. Very New Orleans is a very elementary, quick, but in-depth look into the history of New Orleans. If you want to learn about one of America's greatest cities without taking a history class, this is the book for you.

[JoAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I held a hovering stack of guidebooks about New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the usual selection of suspects: Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s, Dummies Guide. I’d just about cleared the shelf of New Orleans-related travel guides when one more book caught my eye.

Very New Orleans: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Cajun Country Charm by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler is thin, small and unassuming, but I grabbed it anyway and placed it with my other books. When I got home and opened the cover, I knew I’d found a goldmine encased in words and pictures.

In this book, author and illustrator Hollingsworth has depicted the people, culture, cuisine and personality of New Orleans through watercolors. There are six chapters in the book: French Quarter, The CBD & Warehouse District, Garden District & Uptown, Lagniappe, River Road Plantations and Cajun Country. Within each chapter is a colorful map, fun sketches with little factual tidbits and just enough information about what to do and see to pique your interest in New Orleans.

Though New Orlean’s classic sites are highlighted—Preservation Hall, Audubon Zoo, the Louisiana Superdome, Pat O’Brien’s and several nearby plantations are given page time—it’s the little-known details added by Hollingsworth that make this book a must-read for New Orleans virgins and veterans alike. Through the book’s pictures and notations, readers are invited to meet the mimes of the city, learn how to make pralines, introduced to jazz greats and the city’s Catholic saints, get insider tips on how to properly wear a hat and pick up notes on how to identify the city’s flowers. These notes are minor and insignificant, yet they give the city a life, which most typical guidebooks are unable to do.

Very New Orleans: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Cajun Country Charm was on its way to press when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, so you can’t rely on it as a cover-to-cover guide to tourism in the Big Easy. But even if portions of this book are out-of-date, it’s worth spending the time flipping through the pages, enjoying the pictures and learning a little something you never knew about Louisiana’s most famous city.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on my first night in New Orleans and enjoyed reading it over the next few days while I was in town. It is beautifully illustrated and gives a snapshot of New Orleans. I like to take bus tours when I visit new cities, just to get an overview of the area, but I didn't feel like I needed to after reading this book. Reading it added to my overall experience and visit to New Orleans and certainly helped me learn to appreciate the area more. I would definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to New Orleans or who wants to learn more about the area.

[Lucy Bennet · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all im gonna said that i use to read one book in english but not two and this is the second book in english that i ´ve read this year and i must say that Very new Orleans is a kind of surprise for me because i didn´t know too much about the story of New Orleans. just about the Plantations and the Slavery.
When i was reading this book i feel that i want to travel some day to the United states but especifically to this city and visit the french Quarter and the market and why not ?...eat some po boys sandwich.
This book teach me a bit of history of Louisiana and it is necessary for those who doesn´t know too much about the south of the United State.

[Jess (Jess.Keep.Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An untraditional approach to a travel book! It’s about New Orleans but instead of just text, this book includes watercolor illustrations to accompany historical facts about NOLA. Please note this collection was released right after Katrina, so there’s a possibility that some of these places or landmarks may no longer exist.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m planning a trip to New Orleans and although I have not gotten to use this book in action, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately some of the places mentioned in this book don’t seem to exist anymore but based on my research, a substantial number do still exist and can be visited. I loved the illustrations used in the book as well.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book with cute illustrations. The book has little blurbs describing the must see areas of New Orleans and the historical background of those places. If I make it to New Orleans again, I'll be sure to pick up this book.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming little book on the history and highlights of New Orleans. It contained adorable illustrations throughout but the one fault I found is that it was a very ‘choppy’ read, there was no flow for the reader.

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant but simplistic overview of New Orleans, but the illustrations and maps are charming. (I wish I could get prints of some of them to frame!)
I bought it in a museum gift shop on one of my recent trips back, and that is probably the exact audience for this book.

[Urvi Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a funky book with so many historical and cultural tales about New Orleans and surrounds. The format was perfect with cute illustrations and the short write-ups were great! I’ve made note of new things that I can’t wait to discover. A must-read title!

[Raquel Iacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a gift shop in New Orleans and fell in love with all the beautiful watercolors and great information! I read the whole thing while I was there. Great for visitors. I want to check out her other “travel books” for tourists.

[Sarah Dunmire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The watercolor art is definitely the highlight of this tourist book. Information is surface-level but has a good variety. Organized by neighborhoods of New Orleans and surrounding areas. It isn’t written by a local, and it feels like that when reading.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gift from a friend when I left NOLA. It is a sweet keepsake with lots of fun facts and beautiful watercolor illustrations. Reminders of the many great places and experiences I had as a resident .

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great keepsake book! Offers some insight into New Orleans but should be seen more as a coffee table book.

[Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute, must purchase. Not just for the cute illustration factor, but for the great historical tidbits.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little lagniappe from a friend with great illustrations and a wonderful history of New Orleans and all things Nola

[Karley Essington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the art in the book and how it was just a fun quick read.

[Ahmad Moshrif · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in one session.
It does the job. Full of illustrations and decent details for someone like me, visiting NOLA for the first time.

[Bettina]

Such a great intro to the city and its culture!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I could read and learn about this city for the rest of my life

[Barbara Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book!!! Perfect for both Newbie Visitors to New Orleans or us local New Orleanians.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure wished the author/artist would create more like these!

[Deborah Trahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a souvenir- a reference guide of sorts that’s beautifully illustrated.

[The Logophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick peek into the unique & delightful places that make New Orleans, New Orleans.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming, sweet and beautiful book. Everything this authors touches is a pure delight. I hope she is hard at work on another book.