All on a Mardi Gras Day: Episodes in the History of New Orleans Carnival

Year 1999
Pages 264

Worth buying if: You want history of New Orleans Carnival episodes.

Skip it if: You expect a complete chronological encyclopedia of Mardi Gras.

Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780674016231. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.

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Summary

Reid Mitchell collects episodes that illuminate the traditions, politics, and social life of New Orleans Carnival, offering a narrative history of Mardi Gras from varied moments and perspectives.

Why this book now

This Harvard University Press volume remains a useful episodic account for readers wanting historical context on Mardi Gras celebrations and civic life in New Orleans.

30-second preview

Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.

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1-sentence hook

A lively, episode-driven history tracing New Orleans Carnival across time and society.

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Best for readers who...

Good fit if you want...

  • You want history of New Orleans Carnival episodes.
  • You prefer narrative essays over dense theory.

Maybe skip if...

  • You expect a complete chronological encyclopedia of Mardi Gras.
  • You want a short illustrated guide or travel handbook.
  • You are specifically hunting for the newest framing rather than a backlist perspective.

Mood / Vibe Tags

episodic historical civic life Medium length Older edition

Decided it fits?

Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780674016231

Worth buying if: You want history of New Orleans Carnival episodes.

Skip it if: You expect a complete chronological encyclopedia of Mardi Gras.

Buy This Edition on Amazon

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.

Reader guide

Cues to help you decide faster.

Reading commitment

Balanced Moderate time

A 264-page general-interest history that reads as discrete episodes—suitable for reading one chapter at a time or in longer sittings.

What stands out here

This 1999 Harvard University Press edition presents Reid Mitchell’s episode-based approach to the social and cultural history of New Orleans Carnival.

Best way to approach it

Approach it chapter by chapter: treat each episode as a self-contained vignette that builds a broader picture of Mardi Gras over time.

Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780674016231

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.