Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans
Gary Krist’s Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans is a masterful work of narrative nonfiction that transports readers to the sultry, chaotic, and utterly captivating world of early 20th-century New Orleans. Published in 2014 by Crown, this meticulously researched book chronicles the rise and fall of Storyville, the city’s infamous red-light district, while weaving together a tapestry of colorful characters, cultural revolutions, and societal upheavals. Krist’s ability to blend historical rigor with storytelling flair makes Empire of Sin a standout, earning it accolades as one of the top books of 2014 by outlets like The Washington Post and Library Journal. For anyone fascinated by history, jazz, or the gritty underbelly of urban America, this book is a must-read.
A City Like No Other
From the opening pages, Krist paints New Orleans as a city of contradictions—a vibrant gumbo of cultures where French, Spanish, Creole, African, and Anglo-American influences simmered together, creating a unique social landscape. The book covers the period from the 1890s to the 1920s, a time when New Orleans was both celebrated and reviled as the “Great Southern Babylon.” Krist captures the city’s defiant spirit, where vice and virtue clashed in a decades-long battle for its soul. His vivid descriptions of the French Quarter and Storyville immerse readers in a world of opulent saloons, jazz-filled dance halls, and shadowy backstreets, making the setting itself a character as compelling as any human figure.
A Cast of Unforgettable Characters
At the heart of Empire of Sin is Tom Anderson, the so-called “Mayor of Storyville,” a charismatic saloonkeeper and power broker who presided over the district’s vice economy. Krist portrays Anderson with nuance, highlighting his business acumen and political connections while acknowledging his role in a morally complex world. Surrounding Anderson are a host of larger-than-life figures: Josie Arlington, the madam of a luxurious brothel; Lulu White, whose Mahogany Hall was a palace of interracial revelry; and jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton, whose music pulsed through Storyville’s veins. Krist also introduces reformers like Carrie Nation, whose axe-wielding crusades against sin add a dramatic counterpoint, and the mysterious Axman, a serial killer whose gruesome murders lend a chilling thread to the narrative. Each character is rendered with depth, their stories interwoven like the improvisational strains of a jazz composition.
A Narrative That Swings Like Jazz
Krist’s storytelling is one of the book’s greatest strengths. As noted by The New York Times, his interwoven storylines evoke the “raggedy” yet exhilarating quality of early jazz, with themes of vice, music, and crime riffing off one another. The narrative flows seamlessly between the opulence of Storyville’s brothels, the birth of jazz as a revolutionary art form, and the violent undercurrents of mob activity and unsolved murders. Krist’s background as a novelist shines through in his ability to craft scenes that are both cinematic and grounded in historical detail. For example, his depiction of Tom Anderson’s saloon, with its cherrywood bar and electric lights, or Lulu White’s diamond-encrusted appearances, brings the era to life with vivid clarity.
A Deeper Look at Social Dynamics
Beyond its colorful anecdotes, Empire of Sin offers a profound exploration of social and cultural dynamics. Krist delves into the racial complexities of New Orleans, a city where mixed-race identities and interracial interactions were more fluid than in much of America, yet still fraught with tension. The book examines the rise of Jim Crow laws and the violent backlash against Italian immigrants, including the horrific 1891 lynchings following the assassination of police chief David Hennessy. Krist handles these topics with sensitivity, showing how they shaped the city’s identity. He also connects the emergence of jazz to Storyville’s permissive atmosphere, illustrating how the district’s “coon music” laid the groundwork for a cultural revolution that would resonate across the nation.
Historical Context and Modern Echoes
One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its ability to draw parallels between the Storyville era and modern New Orleans. Krist notes the city’s enduring resilience and defiance, qualities that persist in its post-Katrina recovery and vibrant cultural scene. As The Washington Post points out, issues like street violence, institutionalized racism, and the tension between permissiveness and reform are not relics of the past but part of New Orleans’ ongoing story. This historical continuity adds depth to the book, making it not just a portrait of a bygone era but a reflection on the forces that continue to shape urban America.
Minor Flaws, Major Triumphs
While Empire of Sin is not without its critiques—some readers, as noted on Goodreads, found the ending abrupt or the structure occasionally jumbled—these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar work. The book’s ambitious scope, spanning three decades and multiple narrative threads, occasionally leads to tangents, such as the Axman murders, which don’t fully resolve. Yet, as Publishers Weekly describes, the story remains “vivid and twist-filled,” with a richness that outweighs any structural imperfections. Krist’s ability to balance scholarly research with narrative momentum ensures that the book never feels dry or academic.
Why You Should Read It
Empire of Sin is a triumph of narrative nonfiction, blending the lurid allure of a crime thriller with the intellectual heft of a cultural history. It’s a book for readers who love immersive storytelling, whether they’re drawn to the scandalous glamour of Storyville, the birth of jazz, or the gritty realities of a city at war with itself. Krist’s meticulous research, drawn from newspaper accounts, court records, and historical sources, lends authenticity, while his prose keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. Comparisons to Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City are apt, as Library Journal notes, but Empire of Sin stands on its own as a vibrant tribute to New Orleans’ indomitable spirit.
For fans of history, music, or true crime, Empire of Sin is an exhilarating journey into a world where sin and creativity danced in lockstep. It’s a book that not only entertains but also invites reflection on the complexities of human nature and the cities we build. Gary Krist has crafted a love letter to New Orleans, capturing its defiance, diversity, and enduring allure. Take a trip “way down yonder” with this book—you won’t be disappointed.
You can buy Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/44QtiJz
A City Like No Other
From the opening pages, Krist paints New Orleans as a city of contradictions—a vibrant gumbo of cultures where French, Spanish, Creole, African, and Anglo-American influences simmered together, creating a unique social landscape. The book covers the period from the 1890s to the 1920s, a time when New Orleans was both celebrated and reviled as the “Great Southern Babylon.” Krist captures the city’s defiant spirit, where vice and virtue clashed in a decades-long battle for its soul. His vivid descriptions of the French Quarter and Storyville immerse readers in a world of opulent saloons, jazz-filled dance halls, and shadowy backstreets, making the setting itself a character as compelling as any human figure.
A Cast of Unforgettable Characters
At the heart of Empire of Sin is Tom Anderson, the so-called “Mayor of Storyville,” a charismatic saloonkeeper and power broker who presided over the district’s vice economy. Krist portrays Anderson with nuance, highlighting his business acumen and political connections while acknowledging his role in a morally complex world. Surrounding Anderson are a host of larger-than-life figures: Josie Arlington, the madam of a luxurious brothel; Lulu White, whose Mahogany Hall was a palace of interracial revelry; and jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton, whose music pulsed through Storyville’s veins. Krist also introduces reformers like Carrie Nation, whose axe-wielding crusades against sin add a dramatic counterpoint, and the mysterious Axman, a serial killer whose gruesome murders lend a chilling thread to the narrative. Each character is rendered with depth, their stories interwoven like the improvisational strains of a jazz composition.
A Narrative That Swings Like Jazz
Krist’s storytelling is one of the book’s greatest strengths. As noted by The New York Times, his interwoven storylines evoke the “raggedy” yet exhilarating quality of early jazz, with themes of vice, music, and crime riffing off one another. The narrative flows seamlessly between the opulence of Storyville’s brothels, the birth of jazz as a revolutionary art form, and the violent undercurrents of mob activity and unsolved murders. Krist’s background as a novelist shines through in his ability to craft scenes that are both cinematic and grounded in historical detail. For example, his depiction of Tom Anderson’s saloon, with its cherrywood bar and electric lights, or Lulu White’s diamond-encrusted appearances, brings the era to life with vivid clarity.
A Deeper Look at Social Dynamics
Beyond its colorful anecdotes, Empire of Sin offers a profound exploration of social and cultural dynamics. Krist delves into the racial complexities of New Orleans, a city where mixed-race identities and interracial interactions were more fluid than in much of America, yet still fraught with tension. The book examines the rise of Jim Crow laws and the violent backlash against Italian immigrants, including the horrific 1891 lynchings following the assassination of police chief David Hennessy. Krist handles these topics with sensitivity, showing how they shaped the city’s identity. He also connects the emergence of jazz to Storyville’s permissive atmosphere, illustrating how the district’s “coon music” laid the groundwork for a cultural revolution that would resonate across the nation.
Historical Context and Modern Echoes
One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its ability to draw parallels between the Storyville era and modern New Orleans. Krist notes the city’s enduring resilience and defiance, qualities that persist in its post-Katrina recovery and vibrant cultural scene. As The Washington Post points out, issues like street violence, institutionalized racism, and the tension between permissiveness and reform are not relics of the past but part of New Orleans’ ongoing story. This historical continuity adds depth to the book, making it not just a portrait of a bygone era but a reflection on the forces that continue to shape urban America.
Minor Flaws, Major Triumphs
While Empire of Sin is not without its critiques—some readers, as noted on Goodreads, found the ending abrupt or the structure occasionally jumbled—these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar work. The book’s ambitious scope, spanning three decades and multiple narrative threads, occasionally leads to tangents, such as the Axman murders, which don’t fully resolve. Yet, as Publishers Weekly describes, the story remains “vivid and twist-filled,” with a richness that outweighs any structural imperfections. Krist’s ability to balance scholarly research with narrative momentum ensures that the book never feels dry or academic.
Why You Should Read It
Empire of Sin is a triumph of narrative nonfiction, blending the lurid allure of a crime thriller with the intellectual heft of a cultural history. It’s a book for readers who love immersive storytelling, whether they’re drawn to the scandalous glamour of Storyville, the birth of jazz, or the gritty realities of a city at war with itself. Krist’s meticulous research, drawn from newspaper accounts, court records, and historical sources, lends authenticity, while his prose keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. Comparisons to Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City are apt, as Library Journal notes, but Empire of Sin stands on its own as a vibrant tribute to New Orleans’ indomitable spirit.
For fans of history, music, or true crime, Empire of Sin is an exhilarating journey into a world where sin and creativity danced in lockstep. It’s a book that not only entertains but also invites reflection on the complexities of human nature and the cities we build. Gary Krist has crafted a love letter to New Orleans, capturing its defiance, diversity, and enduring allure. Take a trip “way down yonder” with this book—you won’t be disappointed.
You can buy Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/44QtiJz
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