Mardi Gras in New Orleans is an annualexplosion of tumultuous celebration. It began among the French Creoles of NewOrleans, and after the Civil War developed into a city-wide event with thevisit of the Russian Grand Duke Alexis in 1870.In this reprint of the classic work by one of Louisiana's most notableauthors, Robert Tallant examines the history and customs of Mardi Gras. Hedepicts the glittering balls, the ragtag marching clubs, the hilarious satiresof the Zulu parade, and the grandeur of Rex. The volume tells how Mardi Grashas grown from a simple celebration to become the soul of the city.Robert Tallant (1909-1957) was one of Louisiana's best-known authors, andparticipated in the WPA Writers Project during the 1930s and 1940s. BesidesMardi Gras . . . As It Was , Tallant also wrote Voodoo inNew Orleans and The Voodoo Queen . With Lyle Saxon andEdward Dreyer he co-authored the famous collection Gumbo Ya-Ya .