Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil
This weekend I read Mr J Berendt’s well written book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I picked it up, because it was mentioned so
often while we were in Savannah
last week. I found it odd that a book written
thirteen years ago would be so well remembered, so I decided to see what all
the fuss was about. It was worth the effort as it is one of the best reads I
have had all summer.
For
those of you who haven’t read the book, or seen the movie, let me say that the
story is set in Savannah and takes place
in many of the locations we visited this past weekend.
It's
difficult to categorize this book. On some levels, it reads like a page from a
Travel Brochure. Berendt’s vivid
descriptions of the city squares and houses, instantly resurrected each one in
my mind. More importantly, he seemed to
capture what I sensed but not put words to about the mindset of Savannah. For example
here is an except describing how Savannah’s
leaders view the social isolation
created by their remote geographic location:
“ Don’t you feel cut off?” I asked. “Cut off
from what?”, she replied. “No on the
whole I’d say we rather enjoy our separateness.
Whether it’s good or bad I haven’t any idea. Manufacturers tell us they like to
test-market their products in Savannah – toothpaste
and detergents and the like-because Savannah
is utterly impervious to outside influence.
Not that people haven’t tried to influence us! Good lord, they try all
the time. People come here from all over
the country and fall in love with Savannah. Then they move here and pretty soon they’re
telling us how much more lively and prosperous Savannah could be if only we knew what we had
and how to take advantage of it. I call
these people Gucci carpet-baggers’. They can be rather insistent, you know.
Even rude. We smile pleasantly and we nod, but we don’t budge an inch. Cities
all around us are booming urban Centers: Charleston,
Atlanta, Jacksonville-
but not Savannah. The Prudential Insurance people wanted to locate
their regional headquarters here in the nineteen-fifties. It would have created thousands of jobs and
made Savannah
an important center of a nice profitable non-polluting industry. But we said no- too big. They gave it to Jacksonville instead. In the nineteen-seventies Gian Carlo Menotti
considered making Savannah the permanent home offer
his Spoleto USA
Festival. Again we were not
interested. So Charleston got it. It’s not that we’re trying to be difficult. We just happen to like things exactly the way
they are!”
On other
levels it seemed like I was reading the personal diary the author’s social
interactions in Savannah, Georgia. It is peopled with a wide range of eccentric
characters: wealthy and poor, men and women, black, white, old and young. Whether
he is describing a high society matron, or a charming con man, the authors
description of his characters are captivating and believable.
 |
| Mercer House |
It is
also a crime story which is based upon the saga of a wealthy middle age antiques
dealer Jim Williams who in 1981 shot his employee Danny Hansford in the den of
the historic Mercer House. The shooting obsesses Savannah citizens; they watch as
Williams endures four trials and is eventually acquitted, only to die of a
heart attack a few months later, Although non-fiction, Berendt's book reads
like a novel (he admits he has taken 'certain storytelling liberties'). It often left me wondering where the truth
ended and the fiction began.
 |
| Mercer House, Jim Williams Office |
The shooting occurred in Jim Williams’ office,
surrounded by his private collection including 18th and 19th century
furniture, 18th century English and American portraits, drawings from the 17th
century and a wide collection of Chinese export porcelain.
The
timeless peacefulness of the setting contrasts dramatically with the powerful
emotions of the characters. The book is
story telling at its best.
Throughout
the house you will see furniture and art from Mr. Williams’ private collection
including 18th and 19th century furniture, 18th century English and American
portraits, drawings from the 17th century and a wide collection of Chinese
export porcelain.
