Empire of Sin

By: Gary Krist

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

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)

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.

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.

Amazing!

Couldn't stop listening, a truly riveting work! I highly recommend this book to anybody fascinated by the colorful history of New Orleans.

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!!

Best New Orleans History

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