Mardi Gras . . . As It Was

by Robert Tallant

Mardi Gras is a spirit. I believe it is an immortal one.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Robert Tallant was one of Louisiana’s best-known authors. Born in New Orleans in 1909, he attended the city’s local public schools. Before “drifting” into writing, Tallant worked as an advertising copywriter, a bank teller, and a clerk. It was his friendship with Lyle Saxon that led Tallant to his position as editor on the Louisiana WPA Writers Project during the 1930s and 1940s. In that position, he coauthored Gumbo Ya-Ya: Folk Tales of Louisiana (pb) with Lyle Saxon and Edward Dreyer.

By 1948, Tallant’s career had launched, and over the next eleven years, he produced eight novels, six full-length works of nonfiction, and numerous short stories and articles on subjects of local interest. He is also known to have corresponded with, as well as applied to, the Julius Rosenwald Fund for a fellowship in creative writing. During the last years of his life, he was a lecturer in English at Newcomb College as well as a reporter for the New Orleans Item. Robert Tallant died in 1957.


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Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. This book was originally published in 1947 and it's fascinating to see what traditions have disappeared in the last seventy years, which ones were just starting in the '40's and what has stayed a part of Mardi Gras. It not only gives a full rundown of Mardi Gras in the '40's, but an excellent history of Carnival in the American South (although it's accounts of the ancient history of Carnival are not so great). Tallant isn't a historical researcher, so generally the further back something happened, the more questionable his statements become. I do love his attitude towards masking: "The mask is the core of Mardi Gras. It is wonderful to dress up, but it is almost shameful not to cover the face, and to look on Mardi Gras as any other day. On all other days it is a crime to conceal one's identity, illegal to wear as mask in the streets, dishonest to appear as what one is not. But on Mardi Gras comes freedom from all this restraint. Complete escape from identity is not only possible, but it is commendable... Only the extremely conceited people of the world never weary of being themselves." Solid 4 stars. One of my favorite books about period Mardi Gras.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a fabulous read. Never gets old.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic book about the history of Mardi Gras, especially as it developed in New Orleans. Though published in 1947, many of the traditions and customs mentioned in the book have not changed.