• Empire of Sin

  • By: Gary Krist
  • Narrated by: Robertson Dean
  • Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (309 ratings)

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Empire of Sin  By  cover art

Empire of Sin

By: Gary Krist
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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Publisher's summary

Empire of Sin re-creates the remarkable story of New Orleans' 30-years war against itself, pitting the city's elite "better half" against its powerful and long-entrenched underworld of vice, perversity, and crime. This early-20th-century battle centers on one man: Tom Anderson, the undisputed czar of the city's Storyville vice district, who fights desperately to keep his empire intact as it faces onslaughts from all sides. Surrounding him are the stories of flamboyant prostitutes, crusading moral reformers, dissolute jazzmen, ruthless Mafiosi, venal politicians, and one extremely violent serial killer, all battling for primacy in a wild and wicked city unlike any other in the world.

©2014 Gary Krist (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"[A] rich, well-structured story more vivid and twist-filled than most crime fiction... Armed with both well-placed primary sources and an addictive, climactic narrative, Krist leads a perfect trip into the short-lived societal experiment aptly named 'Storyville.'" ( Publishers Weekly)
"...proves that truth really is stranger than fiction by detailing the prominent figures within Storyville, the Crescent City's red-light district... Fans of Boardwalk Empire would enjoy this crime thriller as well." ( Library Journal)
"A colorful account... richly detailed... lively... A wild, well-told tale." ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Empire of Sin

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very interesting

I'm from South Louisiana and this book taught me a lot about New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century. Jazz, murder, debauchery, prostitution and the mob, what more do you want?

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

New Orleans a fabulous story!!

Have you ever really wondered about the dark mysterious city called New Orleans?? It's history how did it become such a melting pot ?? What about all the corruption ?? Well this extremely well written book tells it all!! From the beginning to the end it will hold you spell bound!! I was sad to see it end!

The reader does an excellent job!! I don't care how good a book can be if the reader is not comfortable and easy to listen to to bring the story to life it's not worth it.

Definitely worth the five star rating!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting!

I loved this book. It served to teach me so much about New Orleans that I never knew as well as make me crave more information about its history, culture, and music.
I didn't want this book to end.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging Listen.

An engaging book. I'm ready to start it again. Started thinking it was fiction with bits of truth thrown in but, learned the narrative is actually all true!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Vigilante Justice in New Orleans

If you could sum up Empire of Sin in three words, what would they be?

New Orleans Adolescence

Who was your favorite character and why?

The vigilantes. How they justify what they did is horrifying.

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favorite?

He did a marvelous job of portraying all of them. Narration is superb.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I had to think about each development before listening to the next.

Any additional comments?

Truly excellent, provocative history of late 19th century New Orleans.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A well written history

Mr. Krist aptly weaves several different themes (music, vice, and race) together to form a coherent narrative of New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. Narrator has a top tier voice that pairs nicely with the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Informative listen

This was a great listen. The book was informative and the reader was easy to listen to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best New Orleans History

I've read or listened to them all. This is the best chronicle of 1900-1917 era

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing historical telling

This well-written, and most well-narrated book gives an amazing history lesson of New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. It infuses Italian history, jazz history, Storyville, and the Axeman lore into a book you don’t want to end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brash & interesting history of New Orleans

Great insight into this era of New Orleans politically and socially. Described in detail to feel like you know where they are talking about in relation to today's New Orleans. Fascinating story with great care to the details of the time.

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