What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld
The “raunchy, hilarious, and thrilling” true story of the incomparable Norma Wallace, proprietor of a notorious 1920s New Orleans brothel (NPR).
Norma Wallace grew up fast. In 1916, at fifteen years old, she went to work as a streetwalker in New Orleans’ French Quarter. By the 1920s, she was a “landlady”—or, more precisely, the madam of what became one of the city’s most lavish brothels. It was frequented by politicians, movie stars, gangsters, and even the notoriously corrupt police force. But Wallace acquired more than just repeat customers. There were friends, lovers . . . and also enemies.
Wallace’s romantic interests ran the gamut from a bootlegger who shot her during a fight to a famed bandleader to the boy next door, thirty-nine years her junior, who became her fifth husband. She knew all of the Crescent City’s dirty little secrets, and used them to protect her own interests—she never got so much as a traffic ticket, until the early 1960s, when District Attorney Jim Garrison decided to clean up vice and corruption. After a jail stay, Wallace went legitimate as successfully as she had gone criminal, with a lucrative restaurant business—but it was love that would undo her in the end.
The Last Madam combines original research with Wallace’s personal memoirs, bringing to life an era in New Orleans history rife with charm and decadence, resurrecting “a secret world, like those uncovered by Luc Sante and James Ellroy” (Publishers Weekly). It reveals the colorful, unforgettable woman who reigned as an underworld queen and “capture[s] perfectly the essential, earthy complexity of the most fascinating city on this continent” (Robert Olen Butler).
Norma Wallace grew up fast. In 1916, at fifteen years old, she went to work as a streetwalker in New Orleans’ French Quarter. By the 1920s, she was a “landlady”—or, more precisely, the madam of what became one of the city’s most lavish brothels. It was frequented by politicians, movie stars, gangsters, and even the notoriously corrupt police force. But Wallace acquired more than just repeat customers. There were friends, lovers . . . and also enemies.
Wallace’s romantic interests ran the gamut from a bootlegger who shot her during a fight to a famed bandleader to the boy next door, thirty-nine years her junior, who became her fifth husband. She knew all of the Crescent City’s dirty little secrets, and used them to protect her own interests—she never got so much as a traffic ticket, until the early 1960s, when District Attorney Jim Garrison decided to clean up vice and corruption. After a jail stay, Wallace went legitimate as successfully as she had gone criminal, with a lucrative restaurant business—but it was love that would undo her in the end.
The Last Madam combines original research with Wallace’s personal memoirs, bringing to life an era in New Orleans history rife with charm and decadence, resurrecting “a secret world, like those uncovered by Luc Sante and James Ellroy” (Publishers Weekly). It reveals the colorful, unforgettable woman who reigned as an underworld queen and “capture[s] perfectly the essential, earthy complexity of the most fascinating city on this continent” (Robert Olen Butler).
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 1999
2391 people are currently reading
5826 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
September 22, 2013
I read a couple of the reviews of this book and I disagree with the readers that say it was a boring book. Maybe I liked the book as much as I did because I grew up in New Orleans and only a true New Orleanian can appreciate the truth of this book. Everything and everyone that Norma wrote about are real people in New Orleans and you can't get more to the truth than what she did when she wrote it. That's probably why it wasn't published until she and most everyone she wrote about were dead for 20 years or more. LOL What a wonderful book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hats off to Norma Badon The Last Madam of New Orleans!
August 29, 2016
This story had so much potential to be an engaging piece of history - especially for New Orleans natives, who have the added appeal of seeing men with the same last names as our streets show up in a whorehouse - but choppy writing and poor organizing of the story itself caused it to overall being a somewhat tedious read. This had so much amazing raw material that could have been a truly intriguing and scandalous read with a defter, more creative hand.
January 26, 2010
I'm unsure how to go about reviewing this book. What do you say about an adequate biography that is interesting because the writer is competent and the subject matter is relevant to your interests? It was a fun-enough read and because I tend to keep any books that are not outright garbage, it will have a place in the biography sections on my shelves. But it was a merely adequate book. Not particularly thought-provoking. I read it when I was ill with H1N1, when Dr. Seuss would have been challenging, but this book went down easy and did not require much of me, even as I found it interesting. It seems like all praise for the book is damning it faintly, but it's not often a book falls into the middle zone with me, a place where I could take it or leave it. But seeing as I how took it, it is on that basis worth discussing. Read the rest of the review here: http://ireadeverything.com/?p=72
March 8, 2020
What is it about the history of the underworld and corruption in New Orleans that we all find so fascinating? The original Sin City deserves its moniker, and despite its gritty history the place holds a certain romanticism and mystic. At the center of it all from the 1920s through the 1970s was the legendary queen Madam, Norma Wallace. She ran a successful business with the help of greasing the palms (and other things) of the city's law enforcement and political brokers who protected her. When the pressure was on, she shrewdly manipulated the system to stay one step ahead of any trouble that might bring her operation down. Parallel to the story of her business operation and city corruption is the story of her personal life, loves, and relationships. Say what you will about her business, she was one colorful character who didn't let much get in her way. A solid 3.5+ stars.
March 10, 2011
Sex, bootlegged booze, beautiful women, and powerful men set against the steamy backdrop of corruption in New Orleans from the twenties through the aftermath of WWII. This is the stuff of which exciting novels are made. But, as in many cases, truth is more compelling than fiction. Christine Wiltz combines her mystery writing skills and deep affection for her native city in a real-life thriller, The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld. Norma Wallace, a powerful ambitious woman, ran one of the most notorious houses of prostitution in the French Quarter for over forty years. Wiltz deftly unravels the mystery of the woman behind the glamor of the madam; setting us up with Norma's violent death in Chapter One, then spending the rest of the book answering the proverbial questions of "Who-done-it?" and, more importantly, "Why?"
Wiltz was initially reluctant to take on a non-fiction project, but agreed to meet with Wayne Bernard, Wallace's fifth husband. Traumatized by his wife's death in 1974, he resisted all offers from movie producers and book publishers for audiotapes Wallace dictated during the last two years of her life. After twenty-one years he felt it was time to tell Norma's story. "This really nice youngish man came out to greet me and I thought, 'I don't remember Norma Wallace having any children,'" Wiltz says. "That's when I found out that Wayne was thirty-nine years younger than she was. He took me into the kitchen where Norma died and showed me the bullet hole in the ceiling. The novelist in me went nuts."
That began a four-year odyssey for Wiltz as she patiently pieced together the puzzle of Wallace's life. This book is the result. (This is an excerpt of a longer article posted on my website and blog.)
Wiltz was initially reluctant to take on a non-fiction project, but agreed to meet with Wayne Bernard, Wallace's fifth husband. Traumatized by his wife's death in 1974, he resisted all offers from movie producers and book publishers for audiotapes Wallace dictated during the last two years of her life. After twenty-one years he felt it was time to tell Norma's story. "This really nice youngish man came out to greet me and I thought, 'I don't remember Norma Wallace having any children,'" Wiltz says. "That's when I found out that Wayne was thirty-nine years younger than she was. He took me into the kitchen where Norma died and showed me the bullet hole in the ceiling. The novelist in me went nuts."
That began a four-year odyssey for Wiltz as she patiently pieced together the puzzle of Wallace's life. This book is the result. (This is an excerpt of a longer article posted on my website and blog.)
June 2, 2021
3.5 stars In 1916, Norma Wallace went to work as a sex worker in the famous French Quarter when she was only 15. By 1920, she was the madam of what became one of the most famous brothels in NOLA, an establishment she ran for over 40 years. Her clientele included politicians, movie stars, and gangsters, and many members of the police force. Wallace knew all the secrets and used them to live life on her own terms, defying convention. She was extremely successful, making over $100,000/year in the 1920's. She married five times, with her final marriage to a man 39 years younger than her. I enjoyed this read about a woman who made her own decisions and charted her own success at a time when women didn't have many opportunities. This was an interesting look at not only her life, but the colorful life of the NOLA underworld, complete with bootleggers, sex, and political corruption. As an interesting side note for those interested in NOLA history, her brothel was located in the former home of Bellocq, the famous photographer of Storyville.
July 19, 2016
I wanted this to be better! The reviews said it was a page turner. It was not. The life of Norma could have been told in a much better way! So disappointed'
May 28, 2013
I received this book as a special on Amazon. I was drawn to it because it was about a madam in New Orleans. I lived in New Orleans for 5 years. It is a city unlike any other.
Initially, I was drawn in to the book with the descriptions of streets in a city I knew well almost 100 years later. It was fantastic to be able to picture the current day city and streets described. Most of the detailed city descriptions are of the French Quarter. It is interesting how much has changed and how little. The French Quarter is still known for sex; however, Norma Wallace would describe it as much trashier than it was in her time.
I also really enjoyed the detailed description of corruption in politics and police work. You can't be familiar with New Orleans and not heard about the corruption of the past (and perhaps the present). The book also described where the phrase neutral ground came from which I always thought was strange.
Norma Wallace's story was interesting. It was interesting how well known she was in the city. She even received a key to the city at one point. She saw many changes through her lifetime and association with the underground. It is a unique look into a city that embraces life in every way from a person who loved that city.
Initially, I was drawn in to the book with the descriptions of streets in a city I knew well almost 100 years later. It was fantastic to be able to picture the current day city and streets described. Most of the detailed city descriptions are of the French Quarter. It is interesting how much has changed and how little. The French Quarter is still known for sex; however, Norma Wallace would describe it as much trashier than it was in her time.
I also really enjoyed the detailed description of corruption in politics and police work. You can't be familiar with New Orleans and not heard about the corruption of the past (and perhaps the present). The book also described where the phrase neutral ground came from which I always thought was strange.
Norma Wallace's story was interesting. It was interesting how well known she was in the city. She even received a key to the city at one point. She saw many changes through her lifetime and association with the underground. It is a unique look into a city that embraces life in every way from a person who loved that city.
March 16, 2015
I love to read anything regarding The Big Easy. I've had a fascination with it for many years. The history is rich with legendary characters and Norma was one of them.
This book is very well written and its obvious that Ms. Wiltz did a lot of research, the characters seemed to come back to life on the page. I especially liked the information about Jim Garrison after watching the movie "JFK" I wasn't aware of some of the aspects of his life. This book had me captivated and I'm ready to read more about the old New Orleans!
This book is very well written and its obvious that Ms. Wiltz did a lot of research, the characters seemed to come back to life on the page. I especially liked the information about Jim Garrison after watching the movie "JFK" I wasn't aware of some of the aspects of his life. This book had me captivated and I'm ready to read more about the old New Orleans!
November 9, 2018
This book was interesting from a historical perspective, but the writing was kind of clunky and dry. I didn't find the book particularly raunchy; most descriptions were abstract and matter-of-fact.
August 29, 2025
Following the career of Nomar Wallace and her life.
She learned early in life that she had something she could sell and escape the life she had at home.
Noma found her calling and used the contacts she made during her working life to stay out of jail and get a warning about raids.
Norma made some poor choices in boyfriends. And the life she chose for herself added to the stresses of marriage.
She used her money wisely and bought a farm out of town to retreat from the pressures of running a brothel and dealing with the police. Every time a new mayor or police chief was elected, they made promises to clean up New Orleans. That always included getting rid of the prostitutes.
Her life was amazing and colorful.
Good read and great history about NO.
She learned early in life that she had something she could sell and escape the life she had at home.
Noma found her calling and used the contacts she made during her working life to stay out of jail and get a warning about raids.
Norma made some poor choices in boyfriends. And the life she chose for herself added to the stresses of marriage.
She used her money wisely and bought a farm out of town to retreat from the pressures of running a brothel and dealing with the police. Every time a new mayor or police chief was elected, they made promises to clean up New Orleans. That always included getting rid of the prostitutes.
Her life was amazing and colorful.
Good read and great history about NO.
March 14, 2016
Norma Badon (later Wallace) climbed her way out of a life of poverty and neglect using her body, sharp mind, and good business sense. She started out hustling in 1916 at age 15 in the Tango Belt of New Orleans, at the time Storyville (the infamous Red-Light District organized to help control the spread of prostitution and drugs) was being shuttered after a shoot-out in the area caused a lot of the cabarets to shut down. Some think this may have caused the influx of prostitutes into the area as it was a rough crowd with bootleggers, gamblers, organized crime, etc. She quickly found a house run by an older, well-known madam, and by age 20 was the "landlady" of her own brothel. As a madam, she wouldn't have to turn a trick again. By her mid-30s she was one of the most powerful women in New Orleans. She ran a high-class and safe business, only choosing the most beautiful women of "high moral fiber"--no drugs, no stealing from clients, frequent medical check-ups, and they had to dress like proper ladies when out in public. She was the proprietor of the longest continuously-run bordello in the French Quarter. Her run lasted over 42 years.
French Quarter 1920s
Using audio tapes recorded by Norma herself at the end of her life, as well as misc. interviews, newspaper articles, and personal documents provided by her last husband, the author was able to piece together the story of Norma's life, as well as provide a very interesting history of the political machinations that went on in New Orleans throughout the majority of the 20th century. There was a continuous battle between those who attempted to eliminate prostitution and "clean up the city", often for their own political gain depending on the dictates of the public, and those who fought in their own way to save that institution and any others (gambling, drinking, etc.) which served to line their own pockets. The Last Madam details the political intrigue, graft, and corruption which flourished throughout the city over the years. I found that part of the book very interesting in itself.
The book was given some flair by including Norma's stories about things that happened inside her business. Fun recollections of outwitting local police and FBI sting operations; hiding places where the girls and the johns (or "vidalias") would go during a raid; her system of spies, look-outs, and payouts to the police, lawyers, judges, the mayor; and interesting clients, including some name-dropping of famous celebrities of the time. Things that make you go "hmmm". (I'll never look at Don Ameche the same way again. Stud.) This was not done excessively and oftentimes the names mentioned were included to demonstrate that going to "the Queen's" when you were visiting New Orleans was something not to be missed; and for some young men, it was considered a rite of passage. Even John Wayne stopped in to visit with Norma, although he was a perfect gentleman. He stayed downstairs the whole time and visited with some of the girls, asking them questions about their lives, talking about his wife the whole time, then left them a huge tip because he "took up so much of their time". She was friends with all types of people and was very progressive, especially for her time. Not only because of her profession but the way she was accepting of everyone, even if to the mainstream public they might be considered beyond the pale.
She was either married to or long-time companions with a boxing champ, a famous Hollywood entertainer, and one of Al Capone's henchmen. She was with her fourth husband for over 20 years. Her fifth and last husband (whom she was married to over a decade) was nearly 40 years her junior. She turned heads even into her 60s. She stayed friends with everyone she had romantic relationships with and seemed to have something special about her because the men never seemed to fall out of love with her. She needed to be loved and be the center of attention, and she also was happiest when she was the one in charge. She did what she liked but she would get jealous if one of her men even looked at another woman. Her obsession with her image, her looks, and the loss of her youth were at the heart of her eventual downfall.
Norma was a convoluted mix of every woman. She was a tough cookie, she had a strong sense of self but still secretly held insecurities, she was bold, courageous, lusty, selfish, generous, open-minded, forgiving, charming, and had moxie. She was kind of like New Orleans itself, wasn't she?
NPR interview of author: http://www.npr.org/2014/06/06/3194151...
French Quarter 1920s
Using audio tapes recorded by Norma herself at the end of her life, as well as misc. interviews, newspaper articles, and personal documents provided by her last husband, the author was able to piece together the story of Norma's life, as well as provide a very interesting history of the political machinations that went on in New Orleans throughout the majority of the 20th century. There was a continuous battle between those who attempted to eliminate prostitution and "clean up the city", often for their own political gain depending on the dictates of the public, and those who fought in their own way to save that institution and any others (gambling, drinking, etc.) which served to line their own pockets. The Last Madam details the political intrigue, graft, and corruption which flourished throughout the city over the years. I found that part of the book very interesting in itself.
The book was given some flair by including Norma's stories about things that happened inside her business. Fun recollections of outwitting local police and FBI sting operations; hiding places where the girls and the johns (or "vidalias") would go during a raid; her system of spies, look-outs, and payouts to the police, lawyers, judges, the mayor; and interesting clients, including some name-dropping of famous celebrities of the time. Things that make you go "hmmm". (I'll never look at Don Ameche the same way again. Stud.) This was not done excessively and oftentimes the names mentioned were included to demonstrate that going to "the Queen's" when you were visiting New Orleans was something not to be missed; and for some young men, it was considered a rite of passage. Even John Wayne stopped in to visit with Norma, although he was a perfect gentleman. He stayed downstairs the whole time and visited with some of the girls, asking them questions about their lives, talking about his wife the whole time, then left them a huge tip because he "took up so much of their time". She was friends with all types of people and was very progressive, especially for her time. Not only because of her profession but the way she was accepting of everyone, even if to the mainstream public they might be considered beyond the pale.
She was either married to or long-time companions with a boxing champ, a famous Hollywood entertainer, and one of Al Capone's henchmen. She was with her fourth husband for over 20 years. Her fifth and last husband (whom she was married to over a decade) was nearly 40 years her junior. She turned heads even into her 60s. She stayed friends with everyone she had romantic relationships with and seemed to have something special about her because the men never seemed to fall out of love with her. She needed to be loved and be the center of attention, and she also was happiest when she was the one in charge. She did what she liked but she would get jealous if one of her men even looked at another woman. Her obsession with her image, her looks, and the loss of her youth were at the heart of her eventual downfall.
Norma was a convoluted mix of every woman. She was a tough cookie, she had a strong sense of self but still secretly held insecurities, she was bold, courageous, lusty, selfish, generous, open-minded, forgiving, charming, and had moxie. She was kind of like New Orleans itself, wasn't she?
NPR interview of author: http://www.npr.org/2014/06/06/3194151...
December 4, 2018
This is such a fascinating story and it allows you to glimpse into a time period that has been long gone in New Orleans. How anyone gave this less than 5 stars is beyond me. This book was written so well I felt like I was there.
December 19, 2013
Story of one of the last “landladies” in a bordello in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Based on the audio tapes of Norma Wallace. Poorly written.
August 19, 2025
having created life in new orleans, i love reading stories that take place in the city. ones with recognizable street names and familiar characters. the story itself wasn’t thought provoking or riveting, but it illustrated the life of a powerful woman who demanded an anomalous life. and for that, i will always give my time and attention
March 16, 2024
I want to be Norma Wallace when I grow up.
August 9, 2023
This book was just OK for me. I found it rather slow and boring despite being a time and place in history that should have been more interesting to read about.
January 31, 2025
what other city gives a key to the city to an ex-madam
August 10, 2019
The Last Madam is a powerful read in light of #metoo. Norma Wallace starts her career as a sex worker in a time of no choices—her drug-addicted mother was a sex worker, and she walked the same path. But determined to have a healthier, safer life on her own terms, Norma saved her pennies, and learned the ways of the wealthy and became one of New Orleans’ most established, trusted madams, running a beautiful home that provided safety, healthcare, and family for women in the sex industry. In the final line of the book, Norma says, “You know, in another life, under other circumstances, I might have been a captain of industry. What the hell—maybe I was.” I believe she was. Norma Wallace used her intensely accurate instincts to protect the women working for her from the whims of politicians and police. She also built a rock-solid business with meticulous records that were both notes to provide top-level customer service and insurance policies against jail time. If you wanted Norma Wallace in jail, you had to be willing to have your own identifying physical characteristics to prove you’d frequented 1026 Conti Street. Norma Wallace earned figures unknown to women from the 1920s through the 1960s, and paid top salaries to the women who worked for her. She held the keys to New Orleans’ underbelly of crime, and eventually was given the literal key to the city. A must for those curious about the history of the French Quarter, The Last Madam is a well-crafted, colorful tale steeped in the lore of Sin City.
March 12, 2008
"You know, in another life, under other circumstances, I might have been a captain of industry. What the hell—maybe I was." —Norma Wallace, who ran whorehouses in New Orleans and elsewhere for over 40 years
Norma Wallace turned her hardscrabble existence into a glamorous (though tension-filled) life. She said with complete seriousness, "My girls had to be of the highest moral caliber," which to her meant that they could not take drugs, rob customers, or try to extort money from anyone. Also, their bras and panties had to match--apparently that's a classier look.
Wallace married five times, and her last husband was young enough to be her grandson. This is a fascinating story, although the chronology is confusing at times. Also, there's no index, so it's easy to lose track of the minor players.
Norma Wallace turned her hardscrabble existence into a glamorous (though tension-filled) life. She said with complete seriousness, "My girls had to be of the highest moral caliber," which to her meant that they could not take drugs, rob customers, or try to extort money from anyone. Also, their bras and panties had to match--apparently that's a classier look.
Wallace married five times, and her last husband was young enough to be her grandson. This is a fascinating story, although the chronology is confusing at times. Also, there's no index, so it's easy to lose track of the minor players.
July 26, 2020
Decent biography of Norma Wallace, a woman who ran various houses of prostitution in New Orleans from 1919-1962. Fairly well researched and easy to read, The Last Madame covers, not only her life, but the changing face of the French Quarter (and the CBD), politics, policing, and crime in New Orleans, including Prohibition, the Huey Long era, and various attempts to "clean up" the Quarter. By the time she committed suicide in 1974, Wallace was not only a wealthy woman, but a local celebrity and restaurateur. On a humorous note, you can tell that Wallace was a New Orleanian, as, while she was absolutely willing to name drop about the sexual foibles of various Hollywood stars and Louisiana politicians, she specifically doesn't mention the name of the King of an old line Carnival Krewe who drunkenly cracked his skull in her establishment, preventing him from riding that year.
March 11, 2015
For anyone who loves the tumultuous and always exciting history of New Orleans, this is a must read. What I loved best about this book was not just reading about the fascinating life of Norma Wallace, but how the history of the city was woven into her life story. Norma really embodied so much of what the French Quarter and life in the fast lane of the Big Easy was all about. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to dive into the New Orleans underworld from the 1920s through the 1960s and read about an icon of New Orleans during that time.
June 23, 2014
I've been putting off reviewing this ever since I gave up on it because I don't really know what to say. Somehow Wiltz took a fascinating subject set in an incredible location and managed to turn out something antiseptic and lifeless. Around the 3/4 mark I realized that it wasn't going to pick up speed or get any better so I let it drift.
August 27, 2018
I’d have to give this 3.5 stars. She had a fascinating life, but I thought the writing of it was a little choppy. More like little vignettes than a story from start to finish. She was definitely a broad with balls!
June 13, 2019
SO GOOD. I learned so much insane history. Wiltz is a talented historical writer.
October 21, 2024
Really a 3.5 but rounding up cause I love New Orleans history. Loved the beginning, but the middle just dragged, until we got to the end. I think it could have been a little shorter with a little less on all the political players. I got so lost with all the names - thank god I read it on kindle so I could search names. Overall a really interesting story and a great look into New Orleans.
October 27, 2023
3.5 stars.
September 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, I found it incredibly interesting the reason for the loss of a star was at some points I was confused or felt like it skipped around abruptly. Overall a very interesting read.
June 27, 2025
Very interesting tale/account of Norma Wallace the Last Madam of New Orleans. Great listen!!
Read
November 23, 2020I read the first half of this book, and by that time didn't care at all what happened to Norma. So it was fitting that at the halfway point, the pages in my copy were not bound in order and I had to skip all over to even read, at which point I decided to bail. I just didn't find Norma to be a likable person at all and therefore I had no interest in finishing. Good riddance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews