Berendt Reflects On Legacy of "Midnight"

More than two decades ago, the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” introduced Savannah to the rest of the country. Author John Berendt is back in town for an event this week. GPB's Emily Jones asked him how the city’s changed since he wrote his vivid descriptions of Savannah.

Tuesday at the Jepson Center, he’ll announce the launch of a new edition of the book - as a digital app. You can hear more about it in his interview with GPB’s On Second Thought.

Scroll down to read a transcript of the interview. To hear the full conversation, click on the player above the image to the left.

John Berendt: It was in an economic downturn. The main shopping street, Broughton Street, was filled with boarded up storefronts and wig shops. Today it's a thriving shopping street with national brand stores in it and people going up and down the street.

GPB News Emily Jones: And more on the way.

Berendt: And more on the way. So it's economically a huge difference. There's been an influx of people who have come to Savannah for one reason or the other, the book having to do with some of that. In fact I was at a party in Savannah maybe 5 or 6 years ago and a woman came up to me and said, "Mr. Berendt let me tell you something about Savannah since you were here. I am now the only Savannahian on my block," which shocked me.

Jones: Savannahians meaning someone actually born and raised here?

Berendt: Yeah, so usually everyone who lived in Savannah or 90 percent of them were Savannahians who were born and raised in Savannah. So that tells you how things have changed.

Jones: How much of that change do you think is because of the book?

Berendt: I really don't know, and it would be kinda arrogant for me to claim credit. I think SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) has something to do with the economic success of Savannah so I'm trying to be magnanimous here. Someone came up to me on the street and said, "Mr. Berendt, I want you to know that because of your book we pay higher property taxes now." And I said, "Well you know SCAD has had something to do with that." I spread around some of the blame as well as the credit.

Jones: Do you ever think about how Savannah might be different if it weren't for "Midnight?"

Berendt: No that never occurred to me. I think it would be different because the times are different. I don't know how much of the economic upturn Savannah would have had without "Midnight." I never really thought about that. I think things would have improved over time for sure on its own without "Midnight" but maybe not quite as much.

Jones: When you first get to Savannah in the book it's kind of like this undiscovered gem and not really known to much of the country. Do you think that there are places like that still left?

Berendt: Not very many. If you can find one, I'll go write a book about it. One thing I love is that not only did I find a compelling story and wonderful characters but the city itself was really the overarching main character. It was just tailor made for a book. Sure I'd love to find another one, but it would have to be a city that is gorgeously beautiful, has a history (which means it hasn't just popped up out of nowhere) and it has people...I don't know if I'll ever find the combination of people, places, history and cultural oddness. I doubt there is another city with the attributes of Savannah.

Jones: Do you think Savannah is still that kind of unusual vibrant character that was able to play a part in your book the way that it did? Even though its changed?

Berendt: I wonder about that because the mood in "Midnight" depends on three of the main characters. Savannah is the fourth main character. The three main characters Jim Williams, Joe Odom the piano playing sharpy (a charming man) and the Lady Chablis who is outrageous. Each of those three people had a very, very strong personality and they all had a sense of humor. Every one of them. Now with two of them out of the picture, Joe Odom is dead and so is Jim Williams, you got Chablis left and she is not in Savannah full-time anymore. So the city is still here. It's still the wonderfully beautiful quirky place. For me in telling the story the atmosphere was heavily influenced by those three main characters that I told you about. The supporting roles of characters like Emma Kelly the lady of 6000 songs and all these minor people who sort of wander around town, they're still around. You can find them. But they can get lost in and amongst the art students now. There are so many of those. I'm here for only a few days at a time when I come so I don't know how much of the old Savannah I would find.

Tags: midnight in the garden of good and evil, midnight, the book, john berendt, Jim Williams, lady chablis