I read everything about Mardi Gras and New Orleans that I can get my hands on, and there's a lot out there. This is specifically about the krewes of carnival and the role they've played historically, socially, and politically throughout the last two centuries. O'Neill even brings us the origin of masked balls, which started in Europe and were brought here by the French. The history of what most people think is just a big, drunken party is so much bigger and majestic and, sometimes, prejudiced and elitist.

One point the author makes repeatedly is the changes to New Orleans and Mardi Gras since Katrina. It is not presented at all in victim-related terms, but that it changed carnival to be more inclusive and brought some of the community spirit more to the forefront.

For anyone who is familiar with Mardi Gras, fascinated by NOLA and likes history, this is a gem of a book. Oh, and my walking krewe was mentioned, so hail KOE!! ( )