 It was published by Louisiana State University Press in 1997 and was chosen as one of the best books of the year by the "New York Times Book Review", "Publishers Weekly", and "The Times-Picayune".It chronicles the life and career of Micaela Almonester, the woman responsible for building the Embassy of the United States in Paris and the Pontalba Buildings in New Orleans.In 2003, "Intimate Enemies" was adapted by Thea Musgrave as the opera "Pontalba", which premiered in New Orleans in October of that year.