The Grandissimes

"The Grandissimes" by George Washington Cable is a captivating story set in 1803 New Orleans that looks at the complicated lives of the Creole people and the disagreements between important families, especially the Grandissimes. They have to deal with their place in society, their relationships with each other, and what it means for Louisiana to now be under American control. Honoré Grandissime, a respected Creole man, and Joseph Frowenfeld, a new person in town trying to make a life for himself, are important characters in the book. The story begins with a fancy party where the upper class of New Orleans is having fun, and Honoré Grandissime is a mysterious person that everyone is talking about. Joseph Frowenfeld's experiences are very different from the Creole people at the party, and their experiences set the scene for a strong look at identity, culture, and the intertwined lives of the Creole families.