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La demoiselle du Mississippi
Quand Mary Mac Alistair, seize ans à peine, apprend la mort de son père, toutes ses certitudes s'envolent. Devenue orpheline, apprenant que sa mère n'est pas celle qu'elle croyait, Mary est bouleversée. Seul un mystérieux héritage, composé de quelques souvenirs et d'une adresse à la Nouvelle-Orléans, pourrait être la réponse à toutes ses questions et, qui sait, la clef de son identité...
C'est ainsi que Mary embarque à bord d'un bateau à vapeur qui descend le long du Mississipi. De nombreuses aventures l'attendent... L'occasion de rencontrer l'amour, en la personne de Valmont Saint-Brévion, jeune et séduisant planteur.
Entre bals somptueux, révoltes d'esclaves et rituels vaudous, cette Nouvelle-Orléans pittoresque et parfois inquiétante va guider Mary sur le fleuve de ses passions, à la rencontre de son passé, et à la quête d'elle-même.
C'est ainsi que Mary embarque à bord d'un bateau à vapeur qui descend le long du Mississipi. De nombreuses aventures l'attendent... L'occasion de rencontrer l'amour, en la personne de Valmont Saint-Brévion, jeune et séduisant planteur.
Entre bals somptueux, révoltes d'esclaves et rituels vaudous, cette Nouvelle-Orléans pittoresque et parfois inquiétante va guider Mary sur le fleuve de ses passions, à la rencontre de son passé, et à la quête d'elle-même.
520 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1987
10 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Ripley
33 books204 followersAlexandra Ripley was an American writer best known as the author of Scarlett, the sequel to Gone with the Wind. Her first novel was Who's the Lady in the President's Bed?. Charleston, her first historical novel, was a bestseller, as were her next books On Leaving Charleston, The Time Returns, and New Orleans Legacy. Scarlett received some bad reviews, but was very successful nonetheless. She attended the elite Ashley Hall, in Charleston, South Carolina, and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
She died in Richmond, Virginia, and is survived by two daughters from her first marriage to Leonard Ripley, a son in law and granddaughter, Alexandra Elizabeth.
Ripley has also published works under the name B.K. Ripley.
She died in Richmond, Virginia, and is survived by two daughters from her first marriage to Leonard Ripley, a son in law and granddaughter, Alexandra Elizabeth.
Ripley has also published works under the name B.K. Ripley.
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December 31, 20123.5 stars
Mary MacAllistair has been convent educated, and on her sixteenth birthday she receives the gift of a family legacy - a casket containing family treasures handed down from one Mary (or Marie) to the next. At the same time, Mary is stunned by the news of her father's death, along with the big surprise that her *mother* is really her step-mother and wants nothing to do with Mary - she's on her own in the world. Mary finds a New Orleans address in the casket, and she's off all by herself to hunt down the family she's never known. I won't go into details, but it doesn't take long for our innocent heroine to get duped and then befriended by the nicest woman ever (you just know what plans she has for Mary, don't you?).
Once she's *safely* in New Orleans, she escapes one evil baddie only to fall into the hands of another who recognizes the casket and gets Mary shunted off to a remote plantation. Not a bad life, but her little misstep with the evil Mrs. Jackson comes back to haunt her and she's kicked out of her reasonably cushy digs, forced to work for a living *gasp*. Mary perseveres, since she's got the dressmaking skills to outdo the highest priced modiste in town.
Will Mary find her true love Valmont Saint-Brevin? Convince him she wasn't one of Mrs. Jackson's "girls"? Find her true family? Die at the hands of the ebil voodoo queen?
This was a fairly good read, but it isn't without its faults. Mary is just a wee bit annoying, not quite in full blown pity party mode, but there were times she needed a good smack in the head. While this book only covers about a one-year period, it does contain a lot of historical details of New Orleans, and that might be a deal-breaker for some, YMMV. I did enjoy a lot of the historical bits, loved learning about Micaela Almonester Pontalba (a new to me factoid), but even for this history geek it started wearing thin at the end.
One final cautionary note, and that is towards readers who will look at this stepback and pick the book up expected a romance with steamy kisses and passion on every page. You aren't going to get that, and you are going to wait a long, long time for any payola. And a pretty quick payola at that.
Mary MacAllistair has been convent educated, and on her sixteenth birthday she receives the gift of a family legacy - a casket containing family treasures handed down from one Mary (or Marie) to the next. At the same time, Mary is stunned by the news of her father's death, along with the big surprise that her *mother* is really her step-mother and wants nothing to do with Mary - she's on her own in the world. Mary finds a New Orleans address in the casket, and she's off all by herself to hunt down the family she's never known. I won't go into details, but it doesn't take long for our innocent heroine to get duped and then befriended by the nicest woman ever (you just know what plans she has for Mary, don't you?).
Once she's *safely* in New Orleans, she escapes one evil baddie only to fall into the hands of another who recognizes the casket and gets Mary shunted off to a remote plantation. Not a bad life, but her little misstep with the evil Mrs. Jackson comes back to haunt her and she's kicked out of her reasonably cushy digs, forced to work for a living *gasp*. Mary perseveres, since she's got the dressmaking skills to outdo the highest priced modiste in town.
Will Mary find her true love Valmont Saint-Brevin? Convince him she wasn't one of Mrs. Jackson's "girls"? Find her true family? Die at the hands of the ebil voodoo queen?
This was a fairly good read, but it isn't without its faults. Mary is just a wee bit annoying, not quite in full blown pity party mode, but there were times she needed a good smack in the head. While this book only covers about a one-year period, it does contain a lot of historical details of New Orleans, and that might be a deal-breaker for some, YMMV. I did enjoy a lot of the historical bits, loved learning about Micaela Almonester Pontalba (a new to me factoid), but even for this history geek it started wearing thin at the end.
One final cautionary note, and that is towards readers who will look at this stepback and pick the book up expected a romance with steamy kisses and passion on every page. You aren't going to get that, and you are going to wait a long, long time for any payola. And a pretty quick payola at that.
January 26, 2009
I have been searching for this book for years!! I read it when i was 16 and loved it! I really want to read it again and i am so glad i found it! If you like historical fiction or adventure or romance novels you will probably like this book.
May 19, 2013
The plot here is pretty ridiculous but I am a sucker for all things New Orleans. I loved a lot of the detail and history, which sort of made up for the fact that the hero and heroine barely ever actually interact. When they do, Mary is kind of an idiot and Val is a total jerk. So there's that. The ending was rushed, even as long as the book felt at times I would have liked at least another chapter or epilogue or something to really tie things up. I feel like by the time the love story actually started to develop, the book was over.
In any case, yay for red beans & rice.
In any case, yay for red beans & rice.
July 16, 2012
This book was a surprise. Less of a historical romance and more historical fiction. With a bit of romance. I recently took a trip to New Orleans and it was easy to imagine the backdrop. There were even major real life players in New Orleans society. It's the story of an innocent and naive young girl who scrapes her way to her dream by sheer will. It's believable in how she grows, but a little silly that it all takes place in a little over a year. I found it a great weekend read.
March 4, 2018
Un roman superb,pe gustul meu ...1850,New Orleans...un roman cu iz de `Pe aripile vantului`,plin de neprevazut ..mi^a placut enorm atmosfera creata a orasului New Orleans ,chiar daca romanul abunda de descrieri a peisajului,oamenilor,rochilor,atmosferei,obiceiurilor(descrieri care de obicei m-ar plictisi)acum le-am savurat ,scriitoarea a reusit sa ma acapareze,sa-mi imaginez perfect acele timpuri...intr-un cuvant ,mi-a placut tot....singurul neajuns al romanului ,daca-l pot numi asa a fost faptul ca El si Ea s-au intalnit abia in jurul paginii...(destul de tarziu ,ca sa nu dau spoiler),iar intalnirea lor nu mi s-a parut extrem de spectaculoasa ca sa-mi satisfaca asteptarea,mai ales ca-mi facusem atat de multe scenariiii....sfarsitul mi-a placut,pe gustul meu ....o carte pe care am citit-o in adolescenta si de care-mi aminteam ca am citit-o fara sa o las din mana,eram curioasa daca am sa patesc la fel dupa atatia ani si istoria s-a repetat !!
June 14, 2023
I love this book every time I read it. A glimpse into 1850's New Orleans. Seen through the eyes of Mary a casket girl descendant looking for her family. She runs into the good, the bad, the ugly, the rich, the poor, and everything in between with complete New Orleans flavor.
July 10, 2008
I feel so deliciously bad reading this romance novel...it's historical flare makes it readable and interesting...
August 12, 2016
i thought i was never gonna drop this book.. it really hurt me to realize that i was only a reader and not a character... a book that makes you feel like you are eating a very salivating meal...
May 28, 2018
O poveste care m-a impresionat profund, o carte care trece pe locul doi in topul preferintelor mele si o scriitoare de care m-am "indragostit", astea sunt urmarile lecturarii "Mostenirii din New Orleans"
July 10, 2025
3.5 Stars
50 Books 50 States: Louisiana
New Orleans Legacy is less a historical romance and more historical fiction with romance sprinkled in. That's fine with me, I don't read much historical romance. On Mary McAlistair's 16th birthday, she receives a special gift from her father: a casket that once belonged to her mother. (NOT a coffin, this casket is a special box) She finds out the woman she thought was her mother is actually her stepmother, and her real mother died in childbirth. Mary goes to New Orleans in search of her long-lost family.
Mary starts off as a very whiny, childish character, but she does get a bit better as the book goes on. There's not much romance here. Mary and her love interest, Val, spend most of the book apart! And when they DO interact, (as another reviewer said) Mary is...kind of an idiot. That's putting it mildly. The ending was very abrupt, it felt like the author ran out of ideas and just wanted to end the story. When I got to the end, I was like "THAT'S it? Really?" I wish there was an epilogue about what happened to Val and Mary, but no, the story just kind of...Stops.
Despite the lack of romance and frustrating main character, I really enjoyed all the historical details and descriptions of 19th century New Orleans. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, so I'll read almost anything set there. A decent read that could have been so much better.
50 Books 50 States: Louisiana
New Orleans Legacy is less a historical romance and more historical fiction with romance sprinkled in. That's fine with me, I don't read much historical romance. On Mary McAlistair's 16th birthday, she receives a special gift from her father: a casket that once belonged to her mother. (NOT a coffin, this casket is a special box) She finds out the woman she thought was her mother is actually her stepmother, and her real mother died in childbirth. Mary goes to New Orleans in search of her long-lost family.
Mary starts off as a very whiny, childish character, but she does get a bit better as the book goes on. There's not much romance here. Mary and her love interest, Val, spend most of the book apart! And when they DO interact, (as another reviewer said) Mary is...kind of an idiot. That's putting it mildly. The ending was very abrupt, it felt like the author ran out of ideas and just wanted to end the story. When I got to the end, I was like "THAT'S it? Really?" I wish there was an epilogue about what happened to Val and Mary, but no, the story just kind of...Stops.
Despite the lack of romance and frustrating main character, I really enjoyed all the historical details and descriptions of 19th century New Orleans. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, so I'll read almost anything set there. A decent read that could have been so much better.
July 19, 2020
4 lata temu spróbowałam przeczytać tę oto książkę i poległam. Od ponad roku chciałam spróbować, bo jednak "dojrzałam" i teraz potrafię przeczytać coś innego niż jak kiedyś - same harlequiny.
Okładka trafiła w sedno, bardzo mi się podoba.
Nadal nie jestem fanką długich książek i opisów (chociaż fajnie tutaj został przedstawiony Nowy Orlean), momentami książka mnie nudziła, momentami ciekawiła. W końcu się przyzwyczaiłam do stylu, na wielki plus - bardzo ładnie napisana!
Mary trochę mnie irytowała swoją naiwnością ale w takim wieku i z takim wychowaniem, nie ma co się dziwić. Jak już się wciągnęłam to z chęcią czytałam jej przygody. Szkoda, że końcówka nie została powiązana z początkiem. Zabrakło mi tego czegoś aby zamknąć książkę i powiedzieć. "Świetne podsumowanie". Ten cały Val średnio mi się spodobał. Ogólnie nie podobali mi się mężczyźni z tamtych czasów. Tylko mieć żonę, spłodzić dzieci, mieć kochanki, chlanie, walki i hazard. Wiem, że to nie każdy ale tak to się ogólnie przedstawiało całościowo.
W szoku byłam jak zaczęła się ta cała sprawa z epidemią, w tych czasach co teraz mamy, tym bardziej mnie zaciekawiła.
To jest taka historia która na pewno zostanie w mojej głowie na dłużej.
Okładka trafiła w sedno, bardzo mi się podoba.
Nadal nie jestem fanką długich książek i opisów (chociaż fajnie tutaj został przedstawiony Nowy Orlean), momentami książka mnie nudziła, momentami ciekawiła. W końcu się przyzwyczaiłam do stylu, na wielki plus - bardzo ładnie napisana!
Mary trochę mnie irytowała swoją naiwnością ale w takim wieku i z takim wychowaniem, nie ma co się dziwić. Jak już się wciągnęłam to z chęcią czytałam jej przygody. Szkoda, że końcówka nie została powiązana z początkiem. Zabrakło mi tego czegoś aby zamknąć książkę i powiedzieć. "Świetne podsumowanie". Ten cały Val średnio mi się spodobał. Ogólnie nie podobali mi się mężczyźni z tamtych czasów. Tylko mieć żonę, spłodzić dzieci, mieć kochanki, chlanie, walki i hazard. Wiem, że to nie każdy ale tak to się ogólnie przedstawiało całościowo.
W szoku byłam jak zaczęła się ta cała sprawa z epidemią, w tych czasach co teraz mamy, tym bardziej mnie zaciekawiła.
To jest taka historia która na pewno zostanie w mojej głowie na dłużej.
September 15, 2021
Cutia era un mister, şi din acest motiv era cel mai impresionant dar pe care-l primise Mary vreodată.
Prietenele ei priviră cutia, apoi se priviră unele pe altele, fără să ştie ce să spună.
― Deschide-o, Mary, exclamă una dintre ele, încercând să pară entuziasmată.
― Încă nu, spuse Mary.
Îşi plimbă mâna dreaptă pe cutia uzată, pătată, din lemn vechi. Era o dovadă de afecţiune. În mâna stângă ţinea scrisoarea pe care o primise odată cu darul şi care îi dădea dureri de cap. Paginile fâlfâiră sub degetele ei, semn sigur al emoţiei ce-o stăpânea.
― Citeşte-o, Sue, spuse ea, întinzând scrisoarea celei mai apropiate prietene. Vocea mea tremură prea tare.
Sue înşfacă scrisoarea, trecând peste maniere, aţâţată cum era de curiozitate.
― „Scumpa mea Mary”, citi Sue cu voce tare, „această cutie este un dar de la mama ta”…
Îşi ridică privirea spre celelalte fete din cameră. Păreau la fel de uluite ca şi ea. Toată lumea ştia că doamna MacAlistair nu-i scrisese niciodată lui Mary. Despre daruri nici nu fusese vorba. Tatăl ei îi trimitea daruri, constând din dulciuri scumpe şi cărţi sofisticat ilustrate, chiar dacă erau interzise în pensionul mănăstirii. Sue îşi reluă în grabă lectura.
Prietenele ei priviră cutia, apoi se priviră unele pe altele, fără să ştie ce să spună.
― Deschide-o, Mary, exclamă una dintre ele, încercând să pară entuziasmată.
― Încă nu, spuse Mary.
Îşi plimbă mâna dreaptă pe cutia uzată, pătată, din lemn vechi. Era o dovadă de afecţiune. În mâna stângă ţinea scrisoarea pe care o primise odată cu darul şi care îi dădea dureri de cap. Paginile fâlfâiră sub degetele ei, semn sigur al emoţiei ce-o stăpânea.
― Citeşte-o, Sue, spuse ea, întinzând scrisoarea celei mai apropiate prietene. Vocea mea tremură prea tare.
Sue înşfacă scrisoarea, trecând peste maniere, aţâţată cum era de curiozitate.
― „Scumpa mea Mary”, citi Sue cu voce tare, „această cutie este un dar de la mama ta”…
Îşi ridică privirea spre celelalte fete din cameră. Păreau la fel de uluite ca şi ea. Toată lumea ştia că doamna MacAlistair nu-i scrisese niciodată lui Mary. Despre daruri nici nu fusese vorba. Tatăl ei îi trimitea daruri, constând din dulciuri scumpe şi cărţi sofisticat ilustrate, chiar dacă erau interzise în pensionul mănăstirii. Sue îşi reluă în grabă lectura.
July 12, 2024
Dopo aver letto via col vento ed essermene innamorata volevo leggere altro dello stesso genere, e sono rimasta piacevolmente contenta di aver scovato questa autrice.
La storia di Mary McAllister mi ha affascinata, coinvolgendomi in questo dipinto di festa, superstizione, riti vudù ma anche povertà, schiavismo e malattia.
La storia è un susseguirsi di eventi, di disgrazia ma anche di rivalsa e crescita personale della protagonista, che da bambina diventa una giovane adulta consapevole della vita e delle sue difficoltà.
L'ambientazione di New Orléans è molto affascinante, piena di vita ma allo stesso tempo fredda e inospitale.
L'autrice dipinge i due lati della medaglia di una società aristocratica che vive alle spalle dello schiavismo e dello sfruttamento dei più deboli. Ambiente con cui la nostra protagonista è costretta a fare più volte i conti per riuscire a sopravvivere a questa società a cui vuole fare parte ma che le risulta così ostile.
Il testo è molto descrittivo, non facilita molto la lettura ma riesce a fare immergere a pieno il lettore nel suo contesto.
I protagonisti sono ben descritti e ricoprono ognuno un ruolo specifico.
Il coprotagonista Valmont non mi ha fatto sognare, anzi... Discutibile il finale così affrettato e azzardato.
Tutto sommato è una lettura piacevole, scritta bene e che lascia un ricordo di sé.
La storia di Mary McAllister mi ha affascinata, coinvolgendomi in questo dipinto di festa, superstizione, riti vudù ma anche povertà, schiavismo e malattia.
La storia è un susseguirsi di eventi, di disgrazia ma anche di rivalsa e crescita personale della protagonista, che da bambina diventa una giovane adulta consapevole della vita e delle sue difficoltà.
L'ambientazione di New Orléans è molto affascinante, piena di vita ma allo stesso tempo fredda e inospitale.
L'autrice dipinge i due lati della medaglia di una società aristocratica che vive alle spalle dello schiavismo e dello sfruttamento dei più deboli. Ambiente con cui la nostra protagonista è costretta a fare più volte i conti per riuscire a sopravvivere a questa società a cui vuole fare parte ma che le risulta così ostile.
Il testo è molto descrittivo, non facilita molto la lettura ma riesce a fare immergere a pieno il lettore nel suo contesto.
I protagonisti sono ben descritti e ricoprono ognuno un ruolo specifico.
Il coprotagonista Valmont non mi ha fatto sognare, anzi... Discutibile il finale così affrettato e azzardato.
Tutto sommato è una lettura piacevole, scritta bene e che lascia un ricordo di sé.
November 17, 2019
This book gives a good history of New Orleans. Pretty far-fetched that the heroine knows Marie Leveau, the Baroness Montalba, experiences living on a plantation, in the Irish channel, opening a business, surviving yellow fever, etc. all in a year. Since I live in New Orleans, I have to say the author was good about featuring all that makes the city unique and memorable. The story had enough twists and turns to keep me reading and entertained. I hated "Scarlett," and there was lots not to like about this book - chiefly the "hero" who treated women like dirt but rescued slaves? But, as always, the city of New Orleans draws you in, which was part of the theme of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2022
3.5 I grew up in the suburbs of New Orleans and this book taught me tidbits about its history that I hadn’t heard before, as well as bringing up some lovely memories from my time there. The story was a bit fantastical to my mind as so much happened within one year that it seemed unrealistic. The main character went through a massive change for the better through the many and mostly disturbing experiences she endured. There were abrupt conclusions to some of the characters and relationship storylines in my opinion.
Overall I enjoyed the book, new pieces of history I gleaned, and the fond memories most of all.
Overall I enjoyed the book, new pieces of history I gleaned, and the fond memories most of all.
October 23, 2023
I read this back in the day and LOVED it! Total five stars.
My tastes have definitely changed. But it still wasn't a bad book.
The New Orleans descriptions and history I devoured. That part is soooo good and put me right down in the area. This author does descriptions so well.
The romancy part...is not really a romance. The heroine is sorta a wimp. I know she is supposed to be young and unworldly but damn. She whimpers a bunch.
Then the dude? He needs a crack over the head with a sledgehammer. I got aggravated with the author at one point when she was throwing in a good thing about him. He ain't good. He a asshole.
Booksource: Library book.
My tastes have definitely changed. But it still wasn't a bad book.
The New Orleans descriptions and history I devoured. That part is soooo good and put me right down in the area. This author does descriptions so well.
The romancy part...is not really a romance. The heroine is sorta a wimp. I know she is supposed to be young and unworldly but damn. She whimpers a bunch.
Then the dude? He needs a crack over the head with a sledgehammer. I got aggravated with the author at one point when she was throwing in a good thing about him. He ain't good. He a asshole.
Booksource: Library book.
July 10, 2017
I liked the over all story in this novel, but I thought a lot of the characters were kind of stereotypical, and shallow. The French girl who Mary befriended was the absolute worst, and every time she made an appearance, I just wanted to strangle her. Every time that any guy talked to her, she thought that she loved him, and she was just the biggest airhead.
I did however like Mary's character the bes, even though she did some pretty stupid things through out the book herself.
I did however like Mary's character the bes, even though she did some pretty stupid things through out the book herself.
March 3, 2017
Naiwniutka książka. Nie obroniłaby się, gdyby nie pyszny Nowy Orlean w tle. Za dużo płytkich wątków, zbyt wiele gwałtownych, nierealnych zmian w bohaterach. A i sami bohaterowie narysowani zostali bardzo grubą kreską, w większości są czarno-biali i do bólu przewidywalni.
Czytadło bez większego polotu, jedynie miasto zostało dobrze opisane.
Czytadło bez większego polotu, jedynie miasto zostało dobrze opisane.
August 31, 2023
Another delightful tale from Alexandra Ripley. Her characters jump of the pages and into your life. Mary McAllister has been my almost constant companion for the last few days. She has followed me around when I'm not reading, as if she was my sister. I really enjoyed her story, I feel sorry the book is done.
December 1, 2021
Pribeh ma bavil, az na tu romanticku vsuvku. Val mi neskutocne liezol na nervy, aj ked mal byt dobrodincom. Opisy New Orleansu, zimnice boli velmi zaujimave. Koniec mi prisiel nedokonceny, na to ze predtym boli podrobne opisy.
May 1, 2023
The book is very captivating and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the story until the ending which, in my opinion, was extremely abrupt and unlikely from the previous actions of the main character.
October 25, 2023
I love New Orleans. I love books about historic diseases. I did NOT love this book about a naive girl.
I cannot think of anyone I would recommend this to. Pick something else as there are so many books in the world.
I cannot think of anyone I would recommend this to. Pick something else as there are so many books in the world.
August 1, 2025
This was a really good story, which surprised me, since I had read another book by this author that was a real disaster! (It was written earlier, so maybe her style improved?)
There are enough good reviews that say it all, so I'll just say I highly recommend this one!
There are enough good reviews that say it all, so I'll just say I highly recommend this one!
June 15, 2017
Not usually my genre, but this was a fun read.
January 24, 2019
I've read this several times! So good!
February 27, 2019
Love the history of New Orleans that is woven into the story.
July 22, 2020
Favorite book until The Discovery of witches
October 5, 2020
The ending sucked in my opinion, but otherwise the book was pretty great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews