New Orleans Legacy

This is one of my two favorite Alexandra Ripley books (the other is "Charleston", I can't decide which is better.) Set in the beautiful and exotic New Orleans, the novel tells us the story about a girl who after the death of her father is left alone in the world, learns to stand on her own, and while gets in touch with all the social classes of the city, she overcomes the difficulties and injustices she faces and finds her family and love. Although at first I didn't understand how could she love Valmont Saint-Brevin after all he had done to her, later it turned out that he is still worthy of loving (I won't post a spoiler here but he does a very brave thing that is unusual in the "southern romance" books which follow in the footsteps of "Gone With The Wind" in almost idolizing slavery.) Also, his suffering from yellow fever was a good example of poetic justice. :)Don't let the cover of the book deceive you, this is not the kind of stupid Jennifer Blake novels. This is a historical novel done on the scale of "Gone With The Wind" and "Charleston" but more realistic (it doesn't suggest that slaves were happy under their masters' rule). I loved this book the very moment I began to read it. I kept on getting bad grades in school that week :)

This book is really good. It's long, but I was so interested that I read it in about a week (while I took college courses as well). The main character, Mary, is a true heroine, she's not this silly love-starved, look-for-a-husband-type that's usually found in historical romance/fiction novels. You know it was a good book when a month later you think to yourself "now, who was it that..." and you realize it was a character from a book. Discriptions of N'arlings are great, too. Compleate with banquettes, coffee, and banyaes (sp?). Now I can understand why Ripley was chosen to write the sequal to "Gone With the Wind." If you like epic type historical romances, you'll like this book!

History, love and adventure are held within the covers of New Orleans Legacy by Alexandra Ripley. She combines her talent for fiction writing and the history of one of the nation's most mysterious cities to entertain. Imagine being a 16-year-old girl without a family and only a small box filled with various family heirlooms as a link to the past. After graduating from a convent school, and learning of her father's death, Mary MacAlister sets out to learn about her family and heritage. Her quest for knowledge leads her to New Orleans where she meets an array of characters ranging from a madam to a plantation owner to a Voodoo queen. Her adventures and troubles start on her journey down the Mississippi. She encounters illness, trickery and loneliness. But there are good times too. Mary becomes part of a family, independent and a heroine to many. And of course there is romance. Mary learns that sometimes a man's intentions are not all that innocent and love is not all that easy. Mary MacAlister's story is not the only great thing about this book. Ripley researched the history of New Orleans and its people to be able to honestly depict the city. At the end of the book she places a disclaimer about one inaccuracy. Ripley's portrayal of New Orleans, the people and the history is superior to any other. New Orleans Legacy is for anyone who wants to curl up and get lost in a good book.

Ripley doesn't just write about the South; she takes you there. Her descriptions of New Orleans, homes and even the shops are so vivid one can truly live in each moment along with Mary MacAlistair, the lively character the story evolves around. Her life takes so many twist and turns it's amazing to realize that it all happens in the space of a year. From the age of sixteen to seventeen she's experienced more then most would over the space of a lifetime. She jaunts through the adversity in her life with a very uplifting attitude until she briefly determines it's a dog-eat-dog world she resides in. However, events unfold and she again finds the 'chin up' frame of mind that has made her the delightful character that is Mary. I enjoyed this book as much or more as "Charleston" and "Leaving Charleston". I did feel that the ending unfurled a bit to quickly and lacked the build up that other important parts of the book offered. Overall, it was a most enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

Ripley does a superb in re-creating the mood in this historical love story and tragedy. The main character never loses the innocence she started with. Nothing came easy to her, yet she had everything. Very well written......mon ami!