Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a book by John Berendt, and a movie, directed by Clint Eastwood based loosely on Berendt's story.

The Book

"The Book," as it is often referred to in Savannah, Georgia is atmospheric and Southern Gothic in tone, depicting eccentric Savannah personalities. The plot is propelled by the investigation of the shooting of hustler Danny Hansford (characterized as "a good time not yet had by all") by his boyfriend, respected art dealer Jim Williams, an event which resulted in four murder trials. The murder took place in Williams's home, originally built by an ancestor of songwriter and Savannah native Johnny Mercer.

Related Topics:
Southern Gothic - Savannah - Songwriter - Johnny Mercer

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Despite sounding fictional, the book's plot is based on real-life events that occurred in the 1980s and is classified as nonfiction. The book is among the most popular non-fiction releases of all time and appeared on The New York Times bestseller list for over two years.

Related Topics:
1980s - The New York Times

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The title alludes to "midnight"--the period between the time for good magic and the time for evil magic--in "the garden of good and evil," the Bonaventure Cemetery. The famous bird-girl statue--originally designed both as art and as a birdseed holder--was originally located at Bonaventure. As of July 2005 the Bird Girl Statue has been relocated for display to the Telfair Museum in Savannah.

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