Eliza Ripley

Social Life in Old New Orleans Eliza Ripley

As the title suggests, this is a memoir of antebellum days in New Orleans, although the author does recall incidences after the war of her days in Cuba. This is purely a memoir, not a commentary for social justice. It is profitable reading for anyone who enjoys a picture of life in the 19th century. Mrs. Ripley goes into great detail about dress, making this a good primary source for those who participate in living history events. Although this book is widely available and have been reprinted quite a few times; this edition is unique in that it has detailed annotations which make understanding of things of which the author writes much easier and more interesting. These do not obtrude with the flow of the reading of the original wording, which has been left intact.