The Last Madam
Chris Wiltz’s The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld is a mesmerizing dive into the vibrant, shadowy, and utterly captivating world of New Orleans’ French Quarter, brought to life through the extraordinary story of Norma Wallace, the city’s last great madam. This nonfiction masterpiece, published in 2001, combines meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and a deep love for New Orleans to deliver a biography that is as thrilling as it is insightful. It’s a book that doesn’t just recount history—it resurrects a vanished era with such color and texture that readers feel transported to the sultry streets of the Crescent City.
At its heart, The Last Madam is the story of Norma Wallace, a woman who rose from a poverty-stricken childhood to become a legendary figure in New Orleans’ underworld. Born in 1901, Wallace began her career as a streetwalker at the tender age of 15, but her intelligence, charisma, and unyielding ambition propelled her to the role of “landlady”—a euphemism for the shrewd madam who ran one of the city’s most lavish and influential brothels from the 1920s to the 1960s. Wiltz masterfully weaves Wallace’s personal memoirs, recorded on tape before her death in 1974, with interviews from over 100 of her associates and extensive historical research. The result is a portrait of a woman who was both a product of her time and a force that shaped it, navigating a world of vice, power, and corruption with unparalleled savvy.
What makes this book truly stand out is Wiltz’s ability to balance the salacious with the profound. The narrative is undeniably “raunchy, hilarious, and thrilling,” as NPR aptly described it, filled with anecdotes that range from the absurd—like the time Wallace’s dog’s name became slang for an out-of-town client—to the scandalous, such as her interactions with governors, gangsters, and movie stars. Yet, Wiltz elevates the story beyond mere titillation, crafting a rich social history of New Orleans that captures its “essential, earthy complexity,” as novelist Robert Olen Butler praises. The book delves into the city’s notorious corruption, where politicians and police were as much a part of Wallace’s clientele as they were her protectors, turning a blind eye to her operations in exchange for favors and secrets. This intricate web of power and vice is portrayed with such nuance that readers come away with a deeper understanding of how New Orleans’ underworld thrived in the early 20th century.
Wiltz’s prose is another highlight, striking a perfect balance between evocative and accessible. Her descriptions of the French Quarter—its jazz-filled nights, Prohibition-era speakeasies, and the risqué allure of its bordellos—paint a vivid picture that immerses readers in a bygone era. Wallace herself comes alive through Wiltz’s writing, her deep, raspy voice and distinctive New Orleans accent practically leaping off the page. Wiltz captures Wallace’s wit, likened by Michael Lewis in the New York Times Book Review to that of Dorothy Parker, and her flair for self-dramatization, reminiscent of Tallulah Bankhead. Whether she’s outsmarting reform-minded district attorneys or navigating her tumultuous romantic life—including marriages to men as varied as a Capone-linked gangster and a young man 39 years her junior—Wallace emerges as a complex, unforgettable figure who commands both admiration and empathy.
The book’s strength lies not only in its central character but also in its broader exploration of New Orleans’ social and political landscape. Wiltz deftly contextualizes Wallace’s story within the city’s history, from the freewheeling days of Prohibition, when marijuana was smoked openly on the streets, to the mid-20th century, when District Attorney Jim Garrison’s crackdown on vice finally led to Wallace’s arrest in 1962. This historical backdrop is never dry; instead, it’s woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering readers a glimpse into a city where “the underworld is never far beneath the surface,” as author Valerie Martin notes. Wiltz’s research shines through in details like the flamboyant corruption of local officials and the cultural quirks of the French Quarter, making the book a compelling read for anyone interested in true crime, history, or the lives of unconventional women.
For readers who grew up in New Orleans, as one Goodreads reviewer passionately attests, the book resonates deeply, capturing the city’s unique spirit and the authenticity of its characters. But even for those unfamiliar with the Big Easy, The Last Madam is a universal story of resilience, ambition, and the complexities of power. Wallace’s ability to thrive in a male-dominated world, using her knowledge of the city’s secrets to maintain her empire, is nothing short of inspiring. Her personal life, marked by both glamour and tragedy, adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. As Wiltz notes, Wallace’s obsession with a younger man ultimately led to her undoing, a reminder of the human vulnerabilities beneath her formidable exterior.
Critics have universally praised the book for its ability to transcend its bawdy subject matter. Publishers Weekly compares it to the works of Luc Sante and James Ellroy, noting its resurrection of a “secret world” with elegance and fragility. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune calls it “arresting” and a “vivid social study,” while Entertainment Weekly deems it “juicy” and “jaunty.” These accolades are well-earned, as Wiltz’s storytelling is both gripping and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reconsider their perceptions of morality, power, and survival.
In conclusion, The Last Madam is a triumph of narrative nonfiction, a book that entertains as much as it educates. Chris Wiltz has crafted a love letter to New Orleans and a tribute to Norma Wallace, a woman who defied societal norms to become a legend in her own right. Whether you’re drawn to tales of true crime, fascinated by the history of the American South, or simply love a well-told story about a strong, unconventional woman, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s a journey into a world of charm, decadence, and intrigue that will linger with you long after the final page.
You can buy The Last Madam by Chris Wiltz with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43NaqKo
At its heart, The Last Madam is the story of Norma Wallace, a woman who rose from a poverty-stricken childhood to become a legendary figure in New Orleans’ underworld. Born in 1901, Wallace began her career as a streetwalker at the tender age of 15, but her intelligence, charisma, and unyielding ambition propelled her to the role of “landlady”—a euphemism for the shrewd madam who ran one of the city’s most lavish and influential brothels from the 1920s to the 1960s. Wiltz masterfully weaves Wallace’s personal memoirs, recorded on tape before her death in 1974, with interviews from over 100 of her associates and extensive historical research. The result is a portrait of a woman who was both a product of her time and a force that shaped it, navigating a world of vice, power, and corruption with unparalleled savvy.
What makes this book truly stand out is Wiltz’s ability to balance the salacious with the profound. The narrative is undeniably “raunchy, hilarious, and thrilling,” as NPR aptly described it, filled with anecdotes that range from the absurd—like the time Wallace’s dog’s name became slang for an out-of-town client—to the scandalous, such as her interactions with governors, gangsters, and movie stars. Yet, Wiltz elevates the story beyond mere titillation, crafting a rich social history of New Orleans that captures its “essential, earthy complexity,” as novelist Robert Olen Butler praises. The book delves into the city’s notorious corruption, where politicians and police were as much a part of Wallace’s clientele as they were her protectors, turning a blind eye to her operations in exchange for favors and secrets. This intricate web of power and vice is portrayed with such nuance that readers come away with a deeper understanding of how New Orleans’ underworld thrived in the early 20th century.
Wiltz’s prose is another highlight, striking a perfect balance between evocative and accessible. Her descriptions of the French Quarter—its jazz-filled nights, Prohibition-era speakeasies, and the risqué allure of its bordellos—paint a vivid picture that immerses readers in a bygone era. Wallace herself comes alive through Wiltz’s writing, her deep, raspy voice and distinctive New Orleans accent practically leaping off the page. Wiltz captures Wallace’s wit, likened by Michael Lewis in the New York Times Book Review to that of Dorothy Parker, and her flair for self-dramatization, reminiscent of Tallulah Bankhead. Whether she’s outsmarting reform-minded district attorneys or navigating her tumultuous romantic life—including marriages to men as varied as a Capone-linked gangster and a young man 39 years her junior—Wallace emerges as a complex, unforgettable figure who commands both admiration and empathy.
The book’s strength lies not only in its central character but also in its broader exploration of New Orleans’ social and political landscape. Wiltz deftly contextualizes Wallace’s story within the city’s history, from the freewheeling days of Prohibition, when marijuana was smoked openly on the streets, to the mid-20th century, when District Attorney Jim Garrison’s crackdown on vice finally led to Wallace’s arrest in 1962. This historical backdrop is never dry; instead, it’s woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering readers a glimpse into a city where “the underworld is never far beneath the surface,” as author Valerie Martin notes. Wiltz’s research shines through in details like the flamboyant corruption of local officials and the cultural quirks of the French Quarter, making the book a compelling read for anyone interested in true crime, history, or the lives of unconventional women.
For readers who grew up in New Orleans, as one Goodreads reviewer passionately attests, the book resonates deeply, capturing the city’s unique spirit and the authenticity of its characters. But even for those unfamiliar with the Big Easy, The Last Madam is a universal story of resilience, ambition, and the complexities of power. Wallace’s ability to thrive in a male-dominated world, using her knowledge of the city’s secrets to maintain her empire, is nothing short of inspiring. Her personal life, marked by both glamour and tragedy, adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. As Wiltz notes, Wallace’s obsession with a younger man ultimately led to her undoing, a reminder of the human vulnerabilities beneath her formidable exterior.
Critics have universally praised the book for its ability to transcend its bawdy subject matter. Publishers Weekly compares it to the works of Luc Sante and James Ellroy, noting its resurrection of a “secret world” with elegance and fragility. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune calls it “arresting” and a “vivid social study,” while Entertainment Weekly deems it “juicy” and “jaunty.” These accolades are well-earned, as Wiltz’s storytelling is both gripping and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reconsider their perceptions of morality, power, and survival.
In conclusion, The Last Madam is a triumph of narrative nonfiction, a book that entertains as much as it educates. Chris Wiltz has crafted a love letter to New Orleans and a tribute to Norma Wallace, a woman who defied societal norms to become a legend in her own right. Whether you’re drawn to tales of true crime, fascinated by the history of the American South, or simply love a well-told story about a strong, unconventional woman, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s a journey into a world of charm, decadence, and intrigue that will linger with you long after the final page.
You can buy The Last Madam by Chris Wiltz with my Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43NaqKo
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