Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

• Genre: Nonfiction; True Crime; Southern Gothic
• Originally Published: 1994
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Approximate 400 pages; approximately 15 hours, 4 minutes on audiobook
• Central Concern: Set in the beguiling city of Savannah, Georgia, the book recounts the true story of the murder of Danny Hansford, a young man involved with a wealthy antiques dealer named Jim Williams. As the murder trial unfolds, the narrative dives into the eccentricities, secrets, and intricate social structures of Savannah society. The story is as much about the colorful characters of the city as it is about the crime itself.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Descriptions of murder; mentions of anti-trans and anti-gay bias, including death threats, harassment, and discrimination; discussions of racism and racial prejudice; mentions of death by suicide; socioeconomic class distinctions and bias

John Berendt, Author

• Bio: Born 1939; American author and journalist; former editor of New York magazine; his debut book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for a record-setting 216 weeks; recognized for his detailed character portrayals and atmospheric settings
• Other Works: The City of Falling Angels (2005); My Baby Blue Jays (2014)
• Awards: Pulitzer Prize finalist in General Nonfiction (1995); Southern Book Award for Nonfiction (1994)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Duality of Traditional Savannah
• The Reality of Exclusion
• Appearances Versus Reality
• Genre Bending and the Role of the Journalist

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and literary contexts regarding Berendt’s creative nonfiction account of Savannah, Georgia, which impacts the Jim Williams murder case.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Duality of Traditional Savannah, The Reality of Exclusion, Appearances Versus Reality, and Genre Bending and the Role of the Journalist.
• Research and prepare a presentation on the effect of Berendt’s account on key figures after the publication of the book, based on text details.