Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Elegant and wicked.... [This] might be the first true-crime book that makes the reader want to book a bed and breakfast for an extended weekend at the scene of the crime." —The New York Times Book Review Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case. It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self-absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city has become a modern classic.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil tells you what you need to know—before or after you read John Berendt’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story includes: Historical context Chapter-by-chapter overviews Profiles of the main characters What’s what in Savannah Important quotes Fascinating trivia Glossary of terms Supporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story by John Berendt: John Berendt’s engrossing bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil tells the story of his time spent in Savannah, Georgia. Berendt didn’t just observe the city’s lovely locales and its quirky characters—he also became immersed in a murder case that would shock and fascinate much of Georgia. Part true crime saga, part travel diary, part reportage, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a suspenseful, sharply observed account of Berendt’s sojourns in Savannah and the murder trial of one if its socialites. The summary and analysis in this ebook are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

The #1 Wall Street Journal ebook bestseller about the murder that shocked Savannah society and inspired the blockbuster film. As a premier antiques dealer in Savannah, Jim Williams had it all: style, culture, charisma, and sophistication. But three decades of hard work came crashing down the night he shot Danny Hansford, his wild young lover. Jim Williams stood trial four times over the next decade for premeditated murder. While Clint Eastwood’s movie—starring Kevin Spacey and Jude Law—and the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt portrayed the natives of Savannah as remarkably decadent, exotic characters, they missed the surprising dark side of Jim Williams himself. He was a smooth predator whose crimes could have put him behind bars long before the death of Danny Hansford. After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is Marilyn Bardsley’s continuation of the story, which includes crucial testimony recreating the courtroom drama between a gifted prosecutor and a brilliant defense attorney as they battle over the future of a self-made aristocrat. More than forty photos and revealing insider interviews bring new life to the vivid cast of characters in this unique southern crime story. “[A] provocative summer read.” —Savannahnow.com

This book tells a true story of intrigue, murder, forgery and eccentricity set in the steamy, surreal atmosphere of Savannah, Georgia.

Over 150 entries identify feature films, documentaries, and other film types that explore the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, past and present.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Jim Williams, a billionaire, lived in a mansion in Savannah, Georgia. He was not trying to fool anyone by living the way he did. He was showing visitors through the house, and one man took him aside and told him that his money was old. #2 Jim Williams was a successful dealer in antiques and a restorer of old houses. He had been president of the Telfair Academy, the local art museum, and his byline had appeared in Antiques magazine. #3 Williams began to buy bigger houses as his business grew. He bought the Italian Renaissance palazzo Armstrong House directly across Bull Street from the staid Oglethorpe Club. He also bought Mercer House, which had been empty for more than ten years. #4 Williams’s Christmas party was the social event of the year in Savannah. It was known as the Party of the Year. He wrote names of guests on file cards and arranged them in two stacks: an In stack and an Out stack. He shunted the cards from one stack to the other, and made no secret of it.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Jim Williams, a billionaire, lived in a mansion in Savannah, Georgia. He was not trying to fool anyone by living the way he did. He was showing visitors through the house, and one man took him aside and told him that his money was old. #2 Jim Williams was a successful dealer in antiques and a restorer of old houses. He had been president of the Telfair Academy, the local art museum, and his by-line had appeared in Antiques magazine. #3 Williams began to buy bigger houses as his business grew. He bought the Italian Renaissance palazzo Armstrong House directly across Bull Street from the staid Oglethorpe Club. He also bought Mercer House, which had been empty for more than ten years. #4 Williams’s Christmas party was the social event of the year in Savannah. It was known as the Party of the Year. He wrote names of guests on file cards and arranged them in two stacks: an In stack and an Out stack. He shunted the cards from one stack to the other, and made no secret of it.

Loosely inspired by the novel that put Savannah, Georgia, on the map (John Berendt's bestselling Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), this study in southern decadence shows that corruption has no respect for gender or for much of anything else. Mendacity reigns. Perversity in extremes. Physical beauty as living hell.

Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty, early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.

The TRUE story of the murder that spawned a best-seller and film: "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. But goes far beyond the boundaries of one murder case. No reader of LAWYER GAMES will ever again look the same way at a criminal trial.

Settling the Borderland deals with the intimate connection between journalism and literature, both fields in which work by women has been underrepresented. This book has a twin focus: the work of journalists who became some of the greatest novelists, poets, and short-story writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in America, several of whom are men, and contemporary journalists who best exemplify the effective use of literary techniques in news coverage. Although five women are emphasized here (Katherine Anne Porter, Eudora Welty, Joan Didion, Sara Davidson, and Susan Orlean), three men whose work was profoundly influenced by journalism also are included. Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, and John Steinbeck are well known as writers of poetry, short stories, and novels, but they, too, are among the "other voices" rarely included in studies of literary journalism. In Settling the Borderland, Jan Whitt presents a thorough analysis of the increasingly indistinct lines between truth and fiction and between fact and creative narrative in contemporary media.

Now a two-time Academy Award winner for best director, twice winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for best director, and recipient of countless other critics prizes and nominations in multiple capacities, Clint Eastwood stands alongside Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg as one of the finest directors working in modern cinema. Here, John Foote examines the long, impressive, and unlikely film career of a man who fought against expectations to forge his own way and become one of this generation's finest filmmakers. Each chapter examines a different film, beginning with Play Misty for Me (1971) and High Plains Drifter (1973) and extending to his 21st-century films Space Cowboys (2000), Blood Work (2002), Mystic River (2003), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), and Changeling (2008). This book is, in the author's own words, a study of how Eastwood managed to quietly get to this level—and a celebration of his gifts as an artist. Eastwood has evolved not only as a director, but also as an actor, a screenwriter, a producer, and a score composer, to become one of the most revered figures in Hollywood. Perhaps it is because he started out in Hollywood with such little influence on the final product that he now demonstrates such a strong desire to collaborate with others and provide help wherever he can. In addition to casting off his reputation as a hack and accumulating two Oscar nominations for Best Actor over the past 15 years, he has guided other actors to no less than three Academy Award wins. The executives love him because he has made them money over the years—occasionally even making one for them in exchange for financial backing on other projects. Critics love him because of the care he takes in creating his films. Audiences love him because he has never lost his sense of entertainment, even as his artistry has matured.

A book with more than 500 photos and images of memorabilia celebrates Uga, the beloved English bulldog mascot of the University of Georgia, and includes engaging anecdotes about all versions of the animal--Uga VI, Uga VII, Uga VIII and Russ, the super sub.

He became a movie star playing The Man With No Name, and today his name is known around the world. Measured by longevity, productivity, and profits, Clint Eastwood is the most successful actor-director-producer in American film history. This book examines the major elements of his career, focusing primarily on his work as a director but also exploring the evolution of his acting style, his long association with screen violence, his interest in jazz, and the political views – sometimes hotly controversial – reflected in his films and public statements. Especially fascinating is the pivotal question that divides critics and moviegoers to this day: is Eastwood a capable director with a photogenic face, a modest acting talent, and a flair for marketing his image? Or is he a true cinematic auteur with a distinctive vision of America’s history, traditions, and values? From A Fistful of Dollars and Dirty Harry to Million Dollar Baby and beyond, The Cinema of Clint Eastwood takes a close-up look at one of the screen’s most influential and charismatic stars.

Georgia has played a formative role in the writing of America. Few states have produced a more impressive array of literary figures, among them Conrad Aiken, Erskine Caldwell, James Dickey, Joel Chandler Harris, Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Connor, Jean Toomer, and Alice Walker. This volume contains biographical and critical discussions of Georgia writers from the nineteenth century to the present as well as other information pertinent to Georgia literature. Organized in alphabetical order by author, the entries discuss each author's life and work, contributions to Georgia history and culture, and relevance to wider currents in regional and national literature. Lists of recommended readings supplement most entries. Especially important Georgia books have their own entries: works of social significance such as Lillian Smith's Strange Fruit, international publishing sensations like Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, and crowning artistic achievements including Jean Toomer's Cane. The literary culture of the state is also covered, with information on the Georgia Review and other journals; the Georgia Center for the Book, which promotes authors and reading; and the Townsend Prize, given in recognition of the year's best fiction. This is an essential volume for readers who want both to celebrate and learn more about Georgia's literary heritage.

In the words of one reader, Brian W. Fairbanks has a real talent for extracting the essence of a given subject and articulating it in a meaningful way. In WRITINGS, the author collects some of his finest essays and criticism spanning the years 1991-2005 and covering four subjects: FILM LITERATURE MUSIC SOCIETY Whether offering an insightful analysis of film noir, examining Benjamin Franklin's impact on American society, taking a clear-eyed, non-partisan look at democrats, republicans, the 2004 presidential campaign, George W. Bush, and the war on terror, or lambasting the corruption of television news, Brian W. Fairbanks is ingenious with a sophisticated yet effortlessly readable style. Also available in two hardcover editions.

If you’ve forgotten a thing or two since school, now you can go from knowing jack sh*t to knowing your sh*t in no time! This highly entertaining, useful and fun trivia book fills the gaps, offering hundreds of bite-sized facts about history, grammar, math, and more! Get ready to relearn all the crap you were taught in school and then promptly forgot. Who can keep all that information in their head anyway? Now you can! With All the Sh*t You Should Have Learned, you’ll be schooled in history, language arts, math, science, and foreign language—all the stuff you were taught at one point but now regret not remembering. From translating Roman numerals to remembering the difference between further and farther, we’ve got you covered. You’ll brush up on the Crusades, revisit the structure of the Victorian novel, get a refresher on Chaos Theory, and much more! Maybe this time you’ll remember.

Interviews with the Oscar-winning director of Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby