City of a Million Dreams: A History of New Orleans at Year 300

by Jason Berry

In 2015, the beautiful jazz funeral in New Orleans for composer Allen Toussaint coincided with a debate over removing four Confederate monuments. Mayor Mitch Landrieu led the ceremony, attended by living legends of jazz, music aficionados, politicians, and everyday people. The scene captured the history and culture of the city in microcosm--a city legendary for its noisy, complicated, tradition-rich splendor. In City of a Million Dreams , Jason Berry delivers a character-driven history of New Orleans at its tricentennial. Chronicling cycles of invention, struggle, death, and rebirth, Berry reveals the city's survival as a triumph of diversity, its map-of-the-world neighborhoods marked by resilience despite hurricanes, epidemics, fires, and floods.

Berry orchestrates a parade of vibrant personalities, from the founder Bienville, a warrior emblazoned with snake tattoos; to Governor William C. C. Claiborne, General Andrew Jackson, and Pere Antoine, an influential priest and secret agent of the Inquisition; Sister Gertrude Morgan, a street evangelist and visionary artist of the 1960s; and Michael White, the famous clarinetist who remade his life after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina. The textured profiles of this extraordinary cast furnish a dramatic narrative of the beloved city, famous the world over for mysterious rituals as people dance when they bury their dead.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, American, Historical, United States, Cultural

424 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2018

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was selected by a member of my book club, and as a former Louisiana History teacher, I was looking forward to reading it. The first two-thirds of the book was the history of New Orleans from the days of Bienville founding the city in 1718 through the time of Reconstruction. During that section of the book I enjoyed revisiting the events in Louisiana’s complicated history that I had taught, although for someone unfamiliar with Louisiana’s history, I suspect it would have been a bit overwhelming. Unfortunately, the historical emphasis of the book abruptly stopped at that point, and the author then focused the remaining chapters on biographical sketches of jazz musicians. While acknowledging how important jazz is to Louisiana’s culture and history, I was disappointed that the historical timeline after Reconstruction just disappeared. The Civil Rights Movement, Hurricane Betsy, The World’s Fair, The Flood of 1927, the purchase of the Saints football team...these events were barely mentioned, and in some cases, skipped over entirely. How do you claim a book is a “History of New Orleans” and leave out Marie Laveau, Ruby Bridges, Al Copeland, Andrew Higgins and Ann Rice, to name just a few? Even Hurricane Katrina was only discussed in light of its affect on musicians. Coupled with the confusing lack of chronological order of events and the book’s length, it was at times a frustrating read. However, with all that being said, much can be learned about the city’s early history by reading it.

[Eileen Gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich with many details, but a bit confusing chronologically. Could have benefited from closer editing. But still worth the read.

[J.H. Gordon]

wanted to love this book, the history of New Orleans sounds fascinating, but unfortunately it wasn't holding my attention and I abandoned it at page 100. There is a lot of information packed into this book but the chronology is so confusing that I was continually going back to try and orient myself. I also found the writing a bit bland. Maybe there is another New Orleans history out there better suited to me.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book. *

Jason Berry's history of New Orleans covers a period of more than three hundred years, from the city's founding through to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Berry's approach is to devote each chapter to a notable New Orleans citizen and, by telling their stories and those of their times, give an overview of the complicated threads of New Orleans's development. Invaders, pirates, slaves, Spanish and French colonists, creoles, native Americans, politicians, religious leaders, musicians and artists are profiled by Berry. In the process he takes us through the city's founding, the colonial era, the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, the emergence of jazz and the Mardi Gras tradition right up to the present day destruction of the city in the hurricane, and its subsequent rebirth.

Berry manages to capture what makes New Orleans unique: a blend of French, Spanish, African and Native American influences that gave rise to cultural innovations that have conquered the world, as have some of its foremost artists and musicians. Berry's optimism about the city's resurgence suggests that he believes that this culture will once again triumph.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is exactly what the title says. For the first two-thirds at least. I enjoyed the way Mr. Berry guided readers through the early history of New Orleans from the French, to the Spanish, to the Americans. It wasn't an exhausting or tedious read in these chapters in fact I was fascinated by all the subtopics that he incorporated into the timeline. Helping to keep readers anchored in the connections between the various eras of the Crescent City, he highlights specific individuals and how they were affected during different eras. The last third of the book takes a sudden shift. Instead of looking broadly at the city, the focus shifts to biographical chapters on jazz musicians. Yes, jazz is an integral part of the city's history. But instead of keeping the telescoped view of the city's history, we're suddenly zoomed in on only the development of a few jazz musicians. The book is already long, and to leave the reader on just these biographical chapters felt like a let down for me.

There was a very frank integration of the slave culture and its influence on the city as well as the acknowledgement and details of the free people of color and their role in New Orleans' society. These details were new to me and at the same time refreshing. I think it's time that we strip away the white washing of Southern history and have a real look at how integral the slavery was (and is) a part of the South and it's development.

There is a lot that has fascinated me about New Orleans. I can't even tell you when it began. I think part of it is the very distinct European "otherness" of the city due to the fact it didn't come into the U.S. until later. I don't know. I also know I like some of the food and jazz so that adds to the it as well. I wouldn't read this again, although I would reference it for specific moments of the city's history. It's a fascinating read if you don't know much about the City of Jazz.

[Stephen Terrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the founding of New Orleans.

Over the years, I've read many books about New Orleans and its history. I have a mixed reaction to this one. For long stretches, this book is a dry history, reading like a textbook, particularly when dealing with the city's early history. Any book that makes New Orleans seem boring commits a cardinal sin.

But other places in this book, particularly those sections dealing with the 20th Century, are fascinating. Particularly captivating are the chapters on Sister Gertrude Morgan and modern jazz clarinet legend Dr. Michael White.

Some noted events are touched on, but warranted a deeper, more extensive treatment. One was the riot when "white caps" and their racist supporters attacked the New Orleans police. Also, the story of Jim Garrison and his shameful and meritless effort to link gay New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw, who was responsible for the New Orleans Trade Center, to the Kennedy assassination, merited more than a passing mention.

For those who love New Orleans, it is a worthwhile read, even though getting through the first half is a bit of a slog.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a native New Orleanian, having been born there and lived there for 23 years. However, I've not lived there for several decades. The author Jason Berry and I went to the same high school. So, even though I've never met Berry, I feel a certain kindred spirit with him, being from a city in which the high school you attended helps define you. All this made me pre-disposed to like this book.

The book does certain things well: It describes the early history of the city well. It describes the exploitation of African-Americans in New Orleans at the end of Reconstruction well. It is practically authoritative on the origins of Jazz music and the role that New Orleans had in it. The part on post-Katrina New Orleans is also quite provocative.

However, the book is NOT a comprehensive history of New Orleans but instead is topical, in the ways that I described in the paragraph above. For this reason, the book was not what I was looking for.

[Adrian]

Eccentric history of the great southern city. Founded in 1718 by the French it formed a culture through French, Spanish and African roots for near on eighty years before it became part of the United States. Central to this culture was a history of music and celebration going back to the Code Noir of 1724 and performances in Congo Square. Tragedy too has played a big part in the city's history. Burned to the ground in 1788 and devastated again and again by yellow fever- the worst being in 1853. Berry's coverage of Katrina in 2005 is sharp possibly because he lived there when it took place. The greater part of this book however covers the evolution of New Orleans jazz with excellent portrayals of many of its greatest players.

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from Louisiana and having lived in New Orleans for a short year or so, I was very interested in this book. It is a fascinating review of the history of the city, and obviously including some history of the area known as Louisiana. It reviews a lot of facts that I learned as a student, much of it forgotten. The most interesting parts are in the later sections where the history of music, jazz in particular, is detailed. Names I already knew, Buddy Bolton, Kid Ory, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and then later artists like Fats Domino, were covered in loving details. The book ends as the recovery from Katrina begins. It's a great book full of facts I never knew.

[Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

As it turns out, I am not that interested in the history of New Orleans and I am particularly not that interested in the history of jazz in New Orleans. Apparently (as other GoodReads reviews have noted), nothing of note happened in New Orleans in the 20th century except jazz. The initial 200 years of history had intermittent blips of interest for me, but I think the writer was trying to work in jazz wherever he could. So much jazz...

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. Every chance I had, I was reading it. Great read on New Orleans, the history , religion, just everythign!!!!! Stunning!!!!!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.

[Tommie Whitener · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a jumbled hodge-podge of a book. Lots of disparate facts with no theme and little coherence all thrown together like they were research notes waiting to be edited.

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Informative, but far from entertaining. Very dry.

[Jane Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

[Michael Quinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some chapters were better than others, but overall the first half of the book (which is all I could bear to get through) has some of the worst historical writing I've seen in a while. Some sentences barely seem connected to each other, and the overall structure and scope is confusing. Once the author gets into the 20th century, he focuses a great deal on jazz musicians, which is not what I was expecting from a book ostensibly about the overall history of the city.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, you read another review and you realize, I can’t say it any better. Henceforth, I quote that review, giving this marvelous book a top 5/5 rating!

“I devoured this book. Jason Berry has a profound understanding of the main ingredients of New Orleans history: race, religion, and music. In this fascinating work, he weaves them together in a luscious, multicolored tapestry of the town's 300 years. Like a wonderful piece of jazz, it has recurring strands and lovely riffs that make the narrative dance."—Walter Isaacson, New York Times best-selling author of Leonardo da Vinci

Pub Date 12 Nov 2018

Thanks to University of North Carolina Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#CityOfAmillionDreams #NetGalley

[Tommy Hayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to have a better understanding of the culture of New Orleans!!