Private tour in New Orleans Arthur S

The French Quarter for Literature Lovers

3.7

(3) reviews

-
Hours icon 2 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Arthur S.

4.9

Guide rating

78

Reviews

Tours delivered

7 hrs

Avg. response time

Hello, here's a short welcome to my world…      About four years ago, I retired from a long and varied career in advertising and publishing, my last stop as communications director for the Louisiana State Museum. It was a dream job for an amateur historian like me. There I was in daily contact with literally thousands of objects that embody the incredibly rich heritage and unique culture of New Orleans. So when I shut my office door at the Cabildo for the last time, I knew I would have to keep on sharing stories about this wonderful city… out on the streets this time, walking and talking with curious folks like you and having a grand time together. That's how I became your ToursByLocals guide. A few personal details. I'm a native New Yorker and Tulane University graduate who fell in love with New Orleans and never left. I live in the French Quarter these days, on a quiet street in an 1832 townhouse I share with two teenage sons. When not on tour, you might find me out in the marshes fishing for speckled trout or rowing up cypress-shaded bayou in my beloved hand-built dory, "Peapod. " On holidays and Saints game days, I'll be in the kitchen "perfecting" my recipe for homemade gumbo for family and friends. Over many years of trial and error, this surefire formula has evolved: "The sea + the barnyard + the pasture = Arthur's As-Good-As-It-Gets Gumbo. " You'll want to try gumbo-making back home, so don't forget to ask what it all means. Here's something else you're likely to hear on tour or before we meet. "My guests are my guides, " I always say. The streets we explore together are two-way streets. And you may not notice, but I do as much listening as talking. So tell me about about your work, your personal passions and enthusiasms, and we'll head off from there for a fabulous day in New Orleans! City of New Orleans Professional Tour Guide License #14LTG-06256 No restrictions.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Arthur S.

Overview of your New Orleans tour

This French Quarter literary "ghost tour" and pub crawl explores the haunts of great writers who found Bohemia in New Orleans. Highlights: Close encounters with Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, William Faulkner, Charles Bukowski, and William S. Burroughs. Plus special guest apparitions by Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and other lively literary spirits.

Recent Reviews

Eric H.United States
February 2025

Arthur was an excellent guide for the bards and barfly tour of the Quarter. A lot of great discussion with him and enough stops to keep the beer flowing. Highly recommended to get a glimpse of how Capote, Faulkner, and Burroughs lived in New Orleans.

James W.United States
March 2024

Arthur was delightful, informative but not didactic, quite lively and charming. The tour enriched our appreciation of New Orleans anmd French Quarter's rich cultural heritage and its influence on the US.

Your New Orleans tour itinerary

It's happy hour (or maybe several hours to happy hour!) as we meet in the friendly confines of Harry's Corner Bar, get acquainted, grab our "go-cups, " and head off into the uncrowded streets of the lower French Quarter. We will be looking for the homes and haunts of great writers who found Bohemia here, and we will find these places on nearly every block. That's William Burroughs' 1790 Creole cottage here, Tennessee Williams' 1830 townhouse around the corner. In those cheap garret apartments, William Faulkner and Truman Capote wrote their first novels. Down this street were the slave markets that drew a young Walt Whitman to ogle near-naked human flesh. Gossip is dished. Secrets are revealed, both tragic and funny. And now we're parked at Tujague's ancient bar. It's 1856 again. You might think you see a twenty-something steamboat man named Sam Clemens walking through the doors in a big puff of cigar smoke. He's got stories to tell, delightful stories of that big muddy river just outside.

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

This is a walking tour of mostly residential sections of the French Quarter, about ten city blocks in total distance with frequent stops at literary landmarks and, as needed, neighborhood watering holes.

What's included
Other: A beautiful New Orleans-themed poem or two, and a reading list.
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

900 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116, United States

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Harry's Corner Bar, 900 Chartres Street (corner Dumaine Street), in the French Quarter

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Art And Culture
Off The Beaten Path
Tour reference number
536177
Languages
English
Activity level
Moderate

Traveller reviews

3.7

FAQs

Who is this private tour in New Orleans best suited for?

This private tour is perfect for literature lovers and those interested in the bohemian history of New Orleans. It's ideal for travellers who want to explore the French Quarter's literary landmarks and enjoy stories about great writers like Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and William Faulkner. If you're looking to connect with a local expert for deeper insights into the city's literary past, this tour is a great choice.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in New Orleans be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 2 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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