A carnival organization founded to highlight literary accomplishments during the traditional Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, the Krewe of Libris was established by The Pirates Alley Faulkner Society and The Louisiana State Museum.
The Krewe has been dormant for several years. It is being revived in the 2015 Carnival season at the request of Society members.
For 2015, the Krewe has a new Captain, entertaining author and speaker, Morgan Molthrop, who will lead the tableau for the event. The Krewe will present the new monarchs, Libris IV, and his Queen, Thalia IV at an event on Tuesday, February 10. For details of the event and to reserve tickets for the event, e-mail [email protected].
Libris I and Thalia I, David and Marti Speights
History
The Krewe of Libris hosted its first event February 23, 2006 at The Presbytere, one of the important edifices of colonial French and Spanish government in Louisiana. The event was a costume party in honor of the Krewe’s first King Libris and Queen Thalia, Marti and David Speights of New Orleans. They were presented to the Krewe by the Krewe’s Queen Mother and Court Jester, co-founders Rosemary James and Joseph DeSalvo, Lady in Waiting Gabriela Hernandez, and 2006 Captain Karen Leathem, Museum Curator. Important special guests for the event were authors Roy Blount, Jr., Robert Olen Butler, Elizabeth Dewberry, Mary Helen Lagasse, Charmaine Neville, and Julie Smith, among the contributors to the book, My New Orleans: Ballads to the Big Easy by Her Sons, Daughters, and Lovers, a labor of love edited by Rosemary James, which benefits the Faulkner Society and the national writers’ organization, PEN American Center. Among other author guests were Moira Crone, Rodger Kamenetz, Pamela Binnings Ewen, James Nolan, W. Kenneth Holditch, Marda Burton, and Tom Piazza.
Libris II, Quinn Peeper, returning at the third meeting of the Krewe, appeared as Lestat, the Vampire, and his Queen, Thalia II, Margarita Bergen, came as the Baroness Pontalba.
At the next meeting of the Krewe, Libris I and Thalia I announced and crowned Libris II and Thalia II, Quinn Peeper and Margarita Bergen, on February 14, 2007, St. Valentine’s Day, at a masked ball featuring readings by famous authors on the year’s theme, “Literary Lovers;” live music by George Rossi, buffet supper, open bar. The ball masque took place at The Cabildo.
At the third meeting of the Carnival organization, the Krewe crowned Hotel Monteleone CEO Ron Pincus as Libris III and his wife Anne Simms Pincus as Thalia III. The theme was “Set in New Orleans” and the new monarchs costumed as the late Governor Earl Long and Blaze Starr. Readings included passages from Dinner at Antoine’s, The Last Madam,The Baroness Pontalba, and Interview with a Vampire. That year, Libris II made an appearance as Lestat the Vampire.
Libris III, Ron Pincus, and Thalia III, Anne Simms Pincus
as Earl Long and Blaze Starr
Krewe membership is open to Faulkner Society members. The general public may join the Krewe and attend the party by taking a membership in the Faulkner Society. To join the Society and receive your invitation, CLICK HERE!
Want to know more about the Krewe of Libris? CLICK HERE! to open our Krewe Scrapbook!