5 comments about Degas in New Orleans: Encounters in the Creole World of Kate Chopin and George Washington Cable.

1. Maybe the most important thing for you to know about this book is that it isn't just, or even mostly, about Edgar Degas. If you're in the market solely for an art book about Degas, you may not like this book. What this book is really about is 19th century New Orleans. Degas' 1872-1873 trip is the main theme which the author has used as his framework. Mr. Benfey "improvises" on this theme and goes off in interesting directions. He talks about what made New Orleans unique- the early Creole settlers vs. the "Americans" that arrived after the Louisiana Purchase; the free black population (pre-Civil War) vs. the slaves who became free because of the war; the rupture caused by the war- as New Orleans was occupied by Federal forces through almost all of the conflict. (Many of the local women proved to be fairly feisty in showing their contempt for the Yankees. One woman in the French Quarter supposedly downloaded the contents of a chamber pot onto Admiral Farragut's head. On another occasion, the soldier in charge of keeping order, General Benjamin "Beast" Butler, was riding by some women and they all turned their backs to him. Butler remarked, "those women evidently know which end of them looks best.") After the Civil War the economy, based almost solely on King Cotton, took a beating in the Depression of the 1870's. Yankee "carpetbaggers" were despised. Liberals who wanted integration of the races did battle, sometimes literally, with reactionary forces who yearned for a return to the days of slavery. Mr. Benfey works in some analysis of the writers Kate Chopin and George Washington Cable, who were interested in some of the above themes. The author does devote a fairly good portion of the book to discussing Degas' "Louisiana Connection," (his mother was born in New Orleans; he had relatives who were involved in the cotton trade; and his younger brother, Rene, left France to try to make his fortune in New Orleans). If you enjoy Degas' art, you will find Mr. Benfey's musings on the portraits and "genre scenes" that Degas did during this period to be interesting and informative. For example, from a purely painterly standpoint, Degas enjoyed the juxtaposition of black and white skin, as well as the white of cotton against the black suits and hats commonly worn by businessmen of the time. Mr. Benfey also, convincingly, shows that Degas' started to use, in these paintings, certain compositional effects- such as slanted floors, the arrangement of figures in interior spaces, and certain hand and head movements- that would shortly reappear in the more famous "ballet paintings." We also see Degas in transition from his early "realistic" phase to a looser, more "Impressionistic" style of painting. I also found it interesting that Degas was fascinated by many things he saw while walking around New Orleans, but he was limited mostly to painting interior scenes because the light of New Orleans was bothering his eyes. (He started to have problems with his vision while serving in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. By the time of his death in 1917 he was nearly blind.) There was enough about Degas and his family and art in this book to satisfy me, plus I enjoyed Mr. Benfey's "improvisations." If, in addition to being a Degas fan, you have any interest in the antebellum and post-Civil War worlds of New Orleans, I think you will get a lot of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation from this book.



2. Maybe the most important thing for you to know about this book is that it isn't just, or even mostly, about Edgar Degas. If you're in the market solely for an art book about Degas, you may not like this book. What this book is really about is 19th century New Orleans. Degas' 1872-1873 trip is the main theme which the author has used as his framework. Mr. Benfey "improvises" on this theme and goes off in interesting directions. He talks about what made New Orleans unique- the early Creole settlers vs. the "Americans" that arrived after the Louisiana Purchase; the free black population (pre-Civil War) vs. the slaves who became free because of the war; the rupture caused by the war- as New Orleans was occupied by Federal forces through almost all of the conflict. (Many of the local women proved to be fairly feisty in showing their contempt for the Yankees. One woman in the French Quarter supposedly downloaded the contents of a chamber pot onto Admiral Farragut's head. On another occasion, the soldier in charge of keeping order, General Benjamin "Beast" Butler, was riding by some women and they all turned their backs to him. Butler remarked, "those women evidently know which end of them looks best.") After the Civil War the economy, based almost solely on King Cotton, took a beating in the Depression of the 1870's. Yankee "carpetbaggers" were despised. Liberals who wanted integration of the races did battle, sometimes literally, with reactionary forces who yearned for a return to the days of slavery. Mr. Benfey works in some analysis of the writers Kate Chopin and George Washington Cable, who were interested in some of the above themes. The author does devote a fairly good portion of the book to discussing Degas' "Louisiana Connection," (his mother was born in New Orleans; he had relatives who were involved in the cotton trade; and his younger brother, Rene, left France to try to make his fortune in New Orleans). If you enjoy Degas' art, you will find Mr. Benfey's musings on the portraits and "genre scenes" that Degas did during this period to be interesting and informative. For example, from a purely painterly standpoint, Degas enjoyed the juxtaposition of black and white skin, as well as the white of cotton against the black suits and hats commonly worn by businessmen of the time. Mr. Benfey also, convincingly, shows that Degas' started to use, in these paintings, certain compositional effects- such as slanted floors, the arrangement of figures in interior spaces, and certain hand and head movements- that would shortly reappear in the more famous "ballet paintings." We also see Degas in transition from his early "realistic" phase to a looser, more "Impressionistic" style of painting. I also found it interesting that Degas was fascinated by many things he saw while walking around New Orleans, but he was limited mostly to painting interior scenes because the light of New Orleans was bothering his eyes. (He started to have problems with his vision while serving in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. By the time of his death in 1917 he was nearly blind.) There was enough about Degas and his family and art in this book to satisfy me, plus I enjoyed Mr. Benfey's "improvisations." If, in addition to being a Degas fan, you have any interest in the antebellum and post-Civil War worlds of New Orleans, I think you will get a lot of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation from this book.



3. This is one of the best books I have read. It's so fascinating, easy to read, and just interesting in general. I highly recommend it.



4. Benfey's study is an elegant, exciting study with many facets. He truly evokes a vanished world. An interdisciplinary study which does not meander or bore. Highly recommended.



5. This book is quite informative, just not about Edgar Degas. For the first few chapters I had the feeling that all this information about everyone else was setting the stage for Degas to become, as the title would suggest, a focus of this book. I still had that same feeling while reading the final chapter.
   
   The book would have been more aptly titled "New Orleans from 1865 to 1879, with a Brief Visit by Edgar Degas in 1872". If you've been to New Orleans or are interested in its history or never gave it much thought until Hurricane Katrina and are now curious, this book could be good for you. If you really want a book that focuses on Degas the artist, man, etc... this is not your book.
   
   Beyond that, 1 thing that still bothers me is that I've never read anything by Kate Chopin. In fact I'd never heard of her or Cable until I grabbed this book. I was substantially into their portions of the book, so much so that I'd decided to see which (if any) of their books I could find at my library. I was none too pleased when this book suddenly gave away the ending of one of Chopin's books I'd already planned to read. Let that warn you. In those last couple chapters if you're beginning to care about those books being discussed, skip those sections until you've already read the books.
   
   Of the 2 books I've just reviewed, All Poets Welcome: The Lower East Side Poetry Scene in the 1960s, Includes 35-track CD of audio clips of poetry readings was greatly preferred.

5 comments about Discover! America's Great River Road : Galena, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri (Discover! America's Great River Road).

1. Rolling on the River.......... In a few weeks, it'll be road-trip weather, and we have some of the nation's prettiest highways at our fingertips--US Hwy 61 and several other state and county highways form the parkway known as AMERICA's Great River Road. Making that drive even easier is a new guide: "DISCOVER! AMERICA'S GREAT RIVER ROAD, Volume 1." This 240-page guide highlights the heritage, natural history and recreational activities available along the Mississippi River from St. Paul, Mn., to Dubuque, Iowa. It includes maps, historical and geological points of interest, bike trails, bird watching spots and short features on small towns, parks, and villages. ----STAR TRIBUNE, Minneapolis, Mn. April 1997



2. Having traveled and lived in the areas described in Vol.3, The Lower Mississippi, from St. Louis, Missouri to Memphis, Tennessee, and descended from a family of river rats, I can say that I've "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt."

   Reading Pat's book is like traveling along with her as she explores the Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi River. I was especially impressed with the with the book's scope and readability. Pat has included personal insights from area inhabitants, collected geographical, historical and societal information and spread it all liberally throughout the travelogue. This is one hard book to put down, and if you ever decide to visit the area you'll have plenty of reference material to use. You will feel like you know the place already, and have gotten your own t-shirt.

   Jim Pankey USN (Ret.)




3. I recently purchased DISCOVER! Volume 3 and I want more! Please send Volumes 2 and 3!



4. I recently purchased DISCOVER! Volume 3 and I want more! Please send Volumes 2 and 3!



5. While planning for yet another summer of rides on the motorcycle,
   my wife and I had this book sent as part of our research.
   We were very disappointed, it has 5 stars. So what is the problem?
   For one thing it is not well written nor does it seem up to date.
   We travel a lot, all over the USA and the world.
   It is like asking about a good cafe, first you need to know the people who felt it was great. Do they know good food?

   We know well done books and this is not one. I move it to the waste fill.

2 comments about Scarlett Slept Here : A Book Lover's Guide to the South.

1. Joy Dickinson's "Scarlett Slept Here" is funny, informative and finally answers the age-old question: What IS it with Southern writers and mules? It's a good book for someone who plans to hit the road in search of the literary South, or for those who'd rather settle into an easy chair to experience it vicariously through the author. The lists of "Literary Lures" with each section, and the suggested reading and Internet sources are particularly helpful. Indexed by author and literary character.



2. "Scarlett Slept Here" is a lively, interesting read. Not only did I pick up considerable background on the southern cities Dickinson mentions, but gobs of juicy info on the writers who lived or wrote there. Part of the allure of this book, to be sure, is Dickinson's delight in sharing her enthusiasm for travel and literature. If you're looking for an excuse to do some U.S. travel, you'll find it here. Heck, she's even got me excited about visiting Graceland!

No comments about The Master of the World.

No comments about Alaskan Voyage, 1881-1883: An Expedition to the Northwest Coast of America.

3 comments about Roadside Plants and Flowers: A Traveler's Guide to the Midwest and Great Lakes Area (North Coast Books).

1. This was a disappointment, especially when the Title promises so much more. Standard Audubon's still provide the best. We wished more unfortunately received much the less



2. good photographs and information for fast identification of the familiar plants we see so often---and others not so familiar. The author includes interesting information about the specimens making it more interesting than the usual botanical guides. Very useful to an out-of-state traveler



3. For both the novice and the expert, this is a great book to have while traveling, walking in the woods or biking. Even in the classroom studying the native plants, this easy to read reference will add to the education of students. Referenced by color of flower, there are over 100's of photos of plants in their native habitate along with pictures of their leaves. There is more than just a botanical description. Whimsy folklore about the plants will enhance the readers enjoyment. Ever wonder why the forget-me-not got its name and why the Thistle is the national Scottish symbol? For a quick reference and review of native flowers you will be glad you got ROADSIDE PLANTS AND FLOWERS.

1 comments about California : And Nevada and Hawaii (National Geographic's Driving Guides to America).

1. I bought this book after enjoying the excellent Guide to Texas and the Middle South from the same series. Unfortunately, the guides are all by different authors, and vary widely in the quality of their content. I've bought four of them so far, and this one is the worst of the bunch.

   The Texas book is a "Blue Highways" (i.e., off the beaten track) guide, and contains descriptions of fascinating places that you're not likely to find anywhere else. This one, on the other hand, is no better than those free tourist guides that you find on racks in pancake houses and cheap hotels.

   Mr. Dunn is both unimaginative and lazy, and this book suffers from it. The National Geographic generally does much better. They should own up to their mistake and pull this turkey off the market.

3 comments about South Philadelphia.

1. This factual, tender, and personal treatise immediately transported me back to my childhood in South Philadelphia in the 50's. The content is both from an historical and cultural perspective,and is interspersed with wonderful photographs and humorous commentary. Much of the thorough historical information (the author is a journalist) was new to me and fascinating. However, it was the exploration of the cultural heritage which launched me on a wistful, nostalgic journey. Mr. Dubin, whose experiential reverence is evident, has infused the story of South Philadelphia with a rare intimacy. This reader feels very appreciative.



2. Being a South Philly resident sparks my interest in South Philly as well as Philadelphia. This book is GREAT! Each issue is handled with love and affection for the the good things South Philly used to be known for. I love the little facts and the info that makes you smile. It has given me a great sense of pride and I wish the sense of community the author writes about existed as fully today. If we could get rid of the violence South Philly has also been known for it would be the perfect place. If you are into facts, humor, touching life stories (without being sad), a little local history and a lot of love this is a great book to read. I do not read often but this book held my interest and was not overbearing in any one aspect. I may even read it again! If you read it you won't be disappointed! God Bless South Philly! --Nicole R.



3. The photos were wonderful and so were the comments. I have lots of memories of South Philadelphia after living there for 27 years (10th and Jackson). There were some that were good and some that weren't so great. It's a different world, but I'm happy where I am.

1 comments about Mexico Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

1. This map lacks details and minor roads. For travelers exploring the back roads of Mexico, it's virtually useless. Also lacks city maps for some of the major cities. Not worth buying.

2 comments about Rand McNally Dist-O-Map: Travel Distance Finder.

1. This thing is a wonderful idea. But reading the discription and seeing the item are two different things. First, although it computes the distance between "11,000" locations, it does it with many maps, broken down by region on many different pages. also, its incredibly fimsly, and for the price, feels like it will fall apart on the first road trip.



2. We had a distance finder for years and misplaced it the new one is just as nice as the old great product.