The “raunchy, hilarious, and thrilling” true story of the incomparable Norma Wallace, proprietor of a notorious 1920s New Orleans brothel (NPR). Norma Wallace grew up fast. In 1916, at fifteen years old, she went to work as a streetwalker in New Orleans’ French Quarter. By the 1920s, she was a “landlady”—or, more precisely, the madam of what became one of the city’s most lavish brothels. It was … brothels. It was frequented by politicians, movie stars, gangsters, and even the notoriously corrupt police force. But Wallace acquired more than just repeat customers. There were friends, lovers . . . and also enemies.
Wallace’s romantic interests ran the gamut from a bootlegger who shot her during a fight to a famed bandleader to the boy next door, thirty-nine years her junior, who became her fifth husband. She knew all of the Crescent City’s dirty little secrets, and used them to protect her own interests—she never got so much as a traffic ticket, until the early 1960s, when District Attorney Jim Garrison decided to clean up vice and corruption. After a jail stay, Wallace went legitimate as successfully as she had gone criminal, with a lucrative restaurant business—but it was love that would undo her in the end.
The Last Madam combines original research with Wallace’s personal memoirs, bringing to life an era in New Orleans history rife with charm and decadence, resurrecting “a secret world, like those uncovered by Luc Sante and James Ellroy” (Publishers Weekly). It reveals the colorful, unforgettable woman who reigned as an underworld queen and “capture[s] perfectly the essential, earthy complexity of the most fascinating city on this continent” (Robert Olen Butler).
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Poorly written with little emotional depth. I never got invited in to the madam’s head. What made her tick? What we’re her thoughts. Most like a newspaper article, and not a a very good one at that.
This book is boring ! It tells her story with no excitement or engagement
Loved the underworld of the madam. There is also a morality one does not
expect. A fun world, not dirty like one would expect.
A very detailed story of her life and of what life was like in those days in New Orleans.
Loved every page!
So much history. . . Combined with humor & great stories from an honorable woman in a dishonorable profession!
Interesting read about that era of New Orleans…being from Mississippi…I enjoyed the book
A story told well about the darker side of New Orleans history. Ultimately, it is a sad tale, recounting the glamorous and exciting life of one woman, based primarily on her reminiscences.
A great story of a Woman that made a very successful career out of the oldest profession. When reading remember the times and the Era when this was happening. This Madam had a lot of Power over a lot of people and was very well respected.
The Last Madam was a rollicking good ride through the brothels of New Orleans. But it was also a poignant tale about the prices paid for a life in prostitution. An enjoyable read.
I loved the history of the area.
Entertaining but not especially well written.
Loved the historical information
VERY HARD TO FOLLOW AND GAVE UP HALF WAY IN IT. COULD HAVE BEEN SUPER.
Not a book I would normally read, but this riveting saga of a truly inspiring and independent woman who, while not really blazing a trail, fought for and found her own niche entirely on her own devices, adapting to her surroundings and circumstances as few people ever have, or perhaps ever will. Pick it up, I guarantee you won’t put it down!
A fascinating life! Very good reading.
I enjoyed this book about the last madam in New Orleans. It was about real people who had exciting, funny, real experiences. The author used various sources to help build a story of real people and you got to hear about how their lives played out and how they felt about it.
Great history
Informative and entertaining
Having lived in New Orleans during the later time period of the book, I really appreciated the factual presentations that were made. We have eaten at her restaurant and followed Jim Garrison’s episodes of the Kennedy death. The book gives a different slant on what really went on.
I expected more of a story line. It was disjointed at times.