Josie Arlington's Storyville: The Life and Times of a New Orleans Madam

by Marita Woywod Crandle

A colorful account of a nineteenth-century Big Easy icon—entrepreneur, pioneer, caretaker, philanthropist, and owner of the most dangerous brothel in the city.

At a time when women were denied opportunity, the lavish parlors of Storyville offered advancement for women who welcomed the vice. Mary Deubler, the Storyville madam who called herself Josie Arlington, more than welcomed carnal enterprise. A turbulent childhood forced her into a life of prostitution at an early age, but fueled by ambition, she opened a brothel that soon developed a dangerous reputation in a city famous for competitive iniquity. Devastating circumstances spun her into a new path lined with luxury. Her palace, the brothel she named the Arlington, cemented her legacy. An establishment filled with exotic girls, who added a rare air of refinement to its proffered debauchery, it allowed Josie to become something even rarer for her a self-made woman of vast wealth and influence. Author Marita Woywod Crandle charts Josie’s rise while painting a vivid picture of New Orleans’s red-light district.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2014

Reviews

[L.E. Yearout · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting facts about NOLA but not well-written.

[David Grassé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative history of Josie Arlington and Storyville. Added bonus - a percentage of sales from the book are being used to move Josie back into her tomb in Metairie Cemetery (her lover and niece had the body removed and sold the tomb to another family).

[S.J. Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of New Orleans and the French Quarter, a former resident and a frequent returnee, I enjoyed reading about Storyville and Josie Arlington and some of the history of New Orleans. The Quarter isn't the same as it used to be, but its rich history is part of the charm. The book itself was engaging, an interesting account, complete with pictures, which helped bring the story to life. I think it would have been really interesting to find a companion novel, perhaps, to accompany this story, something to bring that world to life in a more dramatic way. Otherwise, the rest is left to the imagination, and that's not always a bad thing.

[Steven Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an author can inspire you to want to know more about something you never knew about...that's when you know the magic happens! And, Marita Crandle did just that with her newest historical book on New Orleans most famous madam, Josie Arlington.

Crandle details "the life and times" of Josie Arlington, the (in)famous Storyville, and assorted New Orleans history, and finally the soul-crushing end of Josie Arlington. Crandle has revived Arlington's legacy, and helps to inspire others, such as myself, into learning more about our local culture here in New Orleans that has been washed away by time, tears, and temperaments.

The most poetic part about this entire book, is how the author has chosen to give the proceeds of her books towards something so much larger than all of us. So pick up your copy and find out about one of the most interesting ladies I have ever read about, and where these proceeds are going to!

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why memorialize a prostitute? Now that we have a clearer picture of who Mary Deubler (Josie Arlington) was, we can decide if we can learn lessons from her, respect and even idolize her, be entertained by her, feel compassion for her, be understanding of her or be disgusted by her, but we certainly can’t pity her.”

This quote from the book says it all. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just another book about the New Orleans prostitution neighborhood of Storyville. It’s so much more.

This nonfiction work tells the history of New Orleans including information on the German influence. It’s a story of a woman who achieved in business in an occupation which, until that time, had been run by men. The research done on this book is evident by the wonderful pictures illustrating how life was in New Orleans at the turn of the century. The many pictures, architectural drawings, and newspaper articles in the book bring the primary sources into focus.

But this is also the story of a woman, who in spite of being turned away by her parents, made a great living for herself and her family. She persevered and taught others in her family that by working hard, being assertive, knowing you can do it, and knowing how to deal with people , you can achieve whatever you set out to do.

This book is easy to read, filled with visuals that add so much to the story, tells authentic history, and has a moral. If you’re interested in New Orleans’ history, you’ll love it. And you don’t even have to go to Tulane library and the Greater New Orleans Collection. It’s brought to you.

[Craig Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Enchanting Personal Take on a Scandalous Subject

Marita Crandle's biography of Josie Arlington offers a warm take on one of the most notorious madams in the history of Storyville, New Orleans' infamous red light district. Through photos and recollections gathered from those who lived through that tumultuous period, the book peels back the decades, revealing candid insights into Arlington and her world. As a native New Orleanian with a budding interest in the city's post-Reconstruction Era, this volume provided new ideas and a new perspective on the ribald characters that defined the city's own "District". I would recommend this book to anyone interested in New Orleans history.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book that touched on many parts of the history of New Orleans... voodoo, cultural changes, absinthe, mystery.... and of course Josie Arlington as one of the most famous madams in history. Although she was in a career of running a brothel, a less than admirable career, her story is also one of fortitude and perseverance. Storyville was the 'red light' district of the time in New Orleans, when it was a small and close knit city filled with corruption. The photos in this book are an amazing peek into a long ago time period where Josie Arlington went from prostitute to madam to philanthropist.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love New Orleans and have traveled there many times. Having stayed in Josie Arlington's Esplanade mansion a couple of times (it is now an AirBNB), I was interested in reading more about her life. This book does not disappoint. A fascinating history of Storyville and the lives of the women who worked there.

[Eliza Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough examination of the life of a self-made businesswoman in the era of New Orleans' most notorious red light district. The amount of research that went into the life and times of Josie Arlington is evident from start to finish. Nothing is sensationalized, and it doesn't need to be for someone so fascinating.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the top madams in Storyville the legal area of New Orleans inthe early 1900's. She was an astute business woman. And although she lived her personal life the way she wanted to never found the respect she wanted. The family turmoil after her death was almost as dramatic as her life. Very interesting read not only about her but the Storyville history.

[Sally Kilpatrick]

This was a fascinating read about one of Storyville's most famous madams.

[Abigail K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting woman and era in New Orleans history, but with some dubious citations and very short chapters that jumped around in theme & era, this book's $24 prices tag was a bit steep.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story.