Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil 9 '08

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.