Florestine is the story of a mixed race woman, born and raised in antebellum New Orleans who became the wife of a white transplanted Maryland planter. Plaçage was a common practice in that area at the time because it afforded young, beautiful mulatto women the opportunity to have lifestyles that were less harsh than that of other slaves but Florestine chose not to go into that type of relation ship with her intended. The couple moved to the Natchitoches, Louisiana area, and for a time lived in a famous mansion in St. Maurice. They had thirteen children together.