About the book
In the years following World War I, the New Orleans French Quarter attracted artists and writers with its low rents, faded charm, and colorful street life. By the 1920s Jackson Square had become the center of a vibrant if short-lived bohemia. A young William Faulkner and his roommate William Spratling, an artist who taught at Tulane University, resided among the \"artful and crafty ones of the French Quarter.\" In Dixie Bohemia John Shelton Reed introduces Faulkner's circle of friends -- ranging from the distinguished Sherwood Anderson to a gender-bending Mardi Gras costume designer -- and brings to life the people and places of New Orleans in the Jazz Age.
Reed begins with Faulkner and Spratling's self-published homage to their fellow bohemians, \"Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles.\" The book contained 43 sketches of New Orleans artists, by Spratling, with captions and a short introduction by Faulkner. The title served as a rather obscure joke: Sherwood was not a Creole and neither were most of the people featured. But with Reed's commentary, these profiles serve as an entry into the world of artists and writers that dined on Decatur Street, attended masked balls, and blatantly ignored the Prohibition Act. These men and women also helped to establish New Orleans institutions such as the Double Dealer literary magazine, the Arts and Crafts Club, and Le Petit Theatre. But unlike most bohemias, the one in New Orleans existed as a whites-only affair. Though some of the bohemians were relatively progressive, and many employed African American material in their own work, few of them knew or cared about what was going on across town among the city's black intellectuals and artists.
The positive developments from this French Quarter renaissance, however, attracted attention and visitors, inspiring the historic preservation and commercial revitalization that turned the area into a tourist destination. Predictably, this gentrification drove out many of the working artists and writers who had helped revive the area. As Reed points out, one resident who identified herself as an \"artist\" on the 1920 federal census gave her occupation in 1930 as \"saleslady, real estate,\" reflecting the decline of an active artistic class.
A charming and insightful glimpse into an era, Dixie Bohemia describes the writers, artists, poseurs, and hangers-on in the New Orleans art scene of the 1920s and illuminates how this dazzling world faded as quickly as it began.
Editions of Dixie Bohemia
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807147641
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807147665
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807147672
- PDF
- ISBN 9780807147658
Read an Excerpt
In the years following World War I, the New Orleans French Quarter attracted artists and writers with its low rents, faded charm, and colorful street life. By the 1920s Jackson Square had become the center of a vibrant if short-lived bohemia. A young William Faulkner and his roommate William Spratling, an artist who taught at Tulane University, resided among the \"artful and crafty ones of the French Quarter.\" In Dixie Bohemia John Shelton Reed introduces Faulkner's circle of friends -- ranging from the distinguished Sherwood Anderson to a gender-bending Mardi Gras costume designer -- and brings to life the people and places of New Orleans in the Jazz Age.
Reed begins with Faulkner and Spratling's self-published homage to their fellow bohemians, \"Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles.\" The book contained 43 sketches of New Orleans artists, by Spratling, with captions and a short introduction by Faulkner. The title served as a rather obscure joke: Sherwood was not a Creole and neither were most of the people featured. But with Reed's commentary, these profiles serve as an entry into the world of artists and writers that dined on Decatur Street, attended masked balls, and blatantly ignored the Prohibition Act. These men and women also helped to establish New Orleans institutions such as the Double Dealer literary magazine, the Arts and Crafts Club, and Le Petit Theatre. But unlike most bohemias, the one in New Orleans existed as a whites-only affair. Though some of the bohemians were relatively progressive, and many employed African American material in their own work, few of them knew or cared about what was going on across town among the city's black intellectuals and artists.
The positive developments from this French Quarter renaissance, however, attracted attention and visitors, inspiring the historic preservation and commercial revitalization that turned the area into a tourist destination. Predictably, this gentrification drove out many of the working artists and writers who had helped revive the area. As Reed points out, one resident who identified herself as an \"artist\" on the 1920 federal census gave her occupation in 1930 as \"saleslady, real estate,\" reflecting the decline of an active artistic class.
A charming and insightful glimpse into an era, Dixie Bohemia describes the writers, artists, poseurs, and hangers-on in the New Orleans art scene of the 1920s and illuminates how this dazzling world faded as quickly as it began.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dixie Bohemia about?
In the years following World War I, the New Orleans French Quarter attracted artists and writers with its low rents, faded charm, and colorful street life. By the 1920s Jackson Square had become the center of a vibrant if short-lived bohemia. A young William Faulkner and his roommate William Spratling, an artist who taught at Tulane University, resided among the \"artful and crafty ones of the French Quarter.\" In Dixie Bohemia John Shelton Reed introduces Faulkner's circle of friends -- ranging from the distinguished Sherwood Anderson to a gender-bending Mardi Gras costume designer -- and brings to life the people and places of New Orleans in the Jazz Age.
Reed begins with Faulkner and Spratling's self-published homage to their fellow bohemians, \"Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles.\" The book contained 43 sketches of New Orleans artists, by Spratling, with captions and a short introduction by Faulkner. The title served as a rather obscure joke: Sherwood was not a Creole and neither were most of the people featured. But with Reed's commentary, these profiles serve as an entry into the world of artists and writers that dined on Decatur Street, attended masked balls, and blatantly ignored the Prohibition Act. These men and women also helped to establish New Orleans institutions such as the Double Dealer literary magazine, the Arts and Crafts Club, and Le Petit Theatre. But unlike most bohemias, the one in New Orleans existed as a whites-only affair. Though some of the bohemians were relatively progressive, and many employed African American material in their own work, few of them knew or cared about what was going on across town among the city's black intellectuals and artists.
The positive developments from this French Quarter renaissance, however, attracted attention and visitors, inspiring the historic preservation and commercial revitalization that turned the area into a tourist destination. Predictably, this gentrification drove out many of the working artists and writers who had helped revive the area. As Reed points out, one resident who identified herself as an \"artist\" on the 1920 federal census gave her occupation in 1930 as \"saleslady, real estate,\" reflecting the decline of an active artistic class.
A charming and insightful glimpse into an era, Dixie Bohemia describes the writers, artists, poseurs, and hangers-on in the New Orleans art scene of the 1920s and illuminates how this dazzling world faded as quickly as it began.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Dixie Bohemia?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Dixie Bohemia?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807147641
How long is Dixie Bohemia and how many pages does it have?
Dixie Bohemia has 344 page(s)
Is Dixie Bohemia part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures in Southern History
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Dixie Bohemia?
John Shelton Reed
Who is the Publisher of the book Dixie Bohemia?
LSU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Dixie Bohemia is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807147641) and ebook(ISBN 9780807147665) and ebook(ISBN 9780807147672) and pdf(ISBN 9780807147658)
Where can I buy Dixie Bohemia online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Dixie Bohemia from below
Where can I buy Dixie Bohemia?