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New Orleans Unmasqued
"Sketches of a Singular American City"
Unmasqued tells of a city that had the courage to have built itself at all, on a base of soggy marsh 12 feet below sea level. A city where the definitive science is Cooking, the mandatory pastime is Dining and the topic of every discussion, Food. Some fading on spine of dust jacket. No tears or markings. All proceeds go to benefit the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Thanks for supporting the arts!
Unmasqued tells of a city that had the courage to have built itself at all, on a base of soggy marsh 12 feet below sea level. A city where the definitive science is Cooking, the mandatory pastime is Dining and the topic of every discussion, Food. Some fading on spine of dust jacket. No tears or markings. All proceeds go to benefit the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Thanks for supporting the arts!
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
43 people want to read
About the author
S. Frederick Starr
66 books44 followersStephen Frederick Starr (born March 24, 1940) is an American expert on Russian and Eurasian affairs, a musician, and a former college president, having served as President of Oberlin College for 11 years.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 7, 2025
Author S. Frederick Starr is something of an over achiever. Multi-lingual, major government and university, cultural credits and for those who know what it means to miss New Orleans, he is a regular at Rocky’s and Carlos. I was sure that the S. would be some recondite and esp difficult form of address, but it is his first name, the evidently too mundane Stephen. All of this points to what is good and maybe not as good about his book: New Orleans Unmasqued. Mr. Starris is writing to an audience as comfortable with atypical Latin expressions as they are with what only the locals would know. The aforementioned Rocky and Carlos is the kind of place too far from the tourist map and too dear to the natives. So case in point.
The use of the word Unmasqued in the title is yet another example. Locally, to unmasqued can be little more than accepting that Mardi Gras is over and it is not the thing to do, to arrive in yesterday’s costume at church that morning after to receive your ashes. To the not so local, a reader might expect scandals and political insider dirt. Not that there is no insider secrets, but many too old to be part of the 24 hours social drama that is the modern “news cycle”.
This book needs to be approach in something like the Mardi Gras spirit. That spirit allows for the wild and the drunken. But it demands an awareness of history and tradition. Yes, Fat Tuesday, and the weeks preceding do attract the college crowd and all the excesses thereunto, but to the locals, knowing which are the old line krewes and which the nouveau super krewes is just the beginning.
Like most older cities, New Orleans is many places and many layers and much that is best absorbed in the family and the neighborhood. My warning to all is that with the New Orleans, there is what the history book say and what ya mama tole ya. My recommendation is=you gotta believe your Mama.
And so back to Professor Starr. He has way too much credibility as a local, one well connected to the cultural scene and too ready to do the research. Do not attempt to gainsay him. Rather let his words flow through you. Understand that even if it seems serious, mostly it is not. He is having fun and working hard to help you share in his fun. Mostly let the Latin and the recondite flow over you. If it tickles your humor, or awakens your interests, savor it and let the rest flow down river. And on the ground in New Orleans, the river is already over your head.
The use of the word Unmasqued in the title is yet another example. Locally, to unmasqued can be little more than accepting that Mardi Gras is over and it is not the thing to do, to arrive in yesterday’s costume at church that morning after to receive your ashes. To the not so local, a reader might expect scandals and political insider dirt. Not that there is no insider secrets, but many too old to be part of the 24 hours social drama that is the modern “news cycle”.
This book needs to be approach in something like the Mardi Gras spirit. That spirit allows for the wild and the drunken. But it demands an awareness of history and tradition. Yes, Fat Tuesday, and the weeks preceding do attract the college crowd and all the excesses thereunto, but to the locals, knowing which are the old line krewes and which the nouveau super krewes is just the beginning.
Like most older cities, New Orleans is many places and many layers and much that is best absorbed in the family and the neighborhood. My warning to all is that with the New Orleans, there is what the history book say and what ya mama tole ya. My recommendation is=you gotta believe your Mama.
And so back to Professor Starr. He has way too much credibility as a local, one well connected to the cultural scene and too ready to do the research. Do not attempt to gainsay him. Rather let his words flow through you. Understand that even if it seems serious, mostly it is not. He is having fun and working hard to help you share in his fun. Mostly let the Latin and the recondite flow over you. If it tickles your humor, or awakens your interests, savor it and let the rest flow down river. And on the ground in New Orleans, the river is already over your head.
August 17, 2023
From my grandma’s seemingly endless archive of coffee table New Orleans books. Forever inspired by how deep her love for this city runs <3
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Best book on new orleans I’ve read — not definitive by any means but really dives into the landscape of New Orleans in a way that makes sense — sketches and little bits of what makes this city so special/unique/the best of the best material. It’s also quite funny. Honestly probably belongs on everyone’s coffee table in the crescent city. Lots of love, New Orleans.
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Best book on new orleans I’ve read — not definitive by any means but really dives into the landscape of New Orleans in a way that makes sense — sketches and little bits of what makes this city so special/unique/the best of the best material. It’s also quite funny. Honestly probably belongs on everyone’s coffee table in the crescent city. Lots of love, New Orleans.
February 24, 2015
Loved it. A whimsical and sparkling set of notes on the Crescent City. The author is obviously a well informed and thoughtful observer (or an excellent casual liar) and his style is easy and engaging.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews