Schindler focuses on the early old-line krewes, such as Comus, Rex, Proteus and Momus and he lavishly illustrates his book with color invitations allongside costume and float sketches. This book traces the carnival celebrations from ancient times up to the present with an emphasis on the first traditional krewes of the 19 th century. To understand the history of traditional carnival, the best book to start with is Henri Schindler’s Mardi Gras New Orleans (Flammarion, 1997 ). In the midst of annual celebrations like gay pride, carnival, and Southern Decadence, there is a group of gay historians who are actively chronicling, some for the first time, our past, heritage, and history. The LGBTQ+ community in New Orleans is alive, thriving, and at a crossroads. With Southern Decadence Festival just around the corner, we are excited to share their recommendations with our readers. This summer, we asked Howard Philips Smith and Frank Perez, authors of Southern Decadence in New Orleans, to suggest some informative books on the culture and history of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ community.
