Midnight's Impact on Savannah

At first, residents of this heretofore rather anonymous little town fumed and fussed, outraged that their eccentricities and darkest secrets had been revealed to all. Soon, however, as they saw the results of their sudden fame, The Book, as it quickly came to be called, became a city-wide treasure. Berendt was acclaimed, bestowed with keys to the city, invited back again and again to receive awards and accolades.

Rarely has any book had the impact on a town that Midnight had on Savannah. By the following year, Savannah had 3.73 million visitors. The book remained on the bestseller list for more than four years. By 1997, tourism had grown to 5.05 million and was going strong.

Broughton St., which had long looked like not much more than a deserted alley, began to bloom with trendy restaurants and shops.

Construction began on the $83.5 million Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, which was completed in 2000 along with the $98 million Savannah Harbor Resort complex. Real estate prices skyrocketed. Property owners rejoiced. The major realtors reached near celebrity status.

Today, there are countless Midnight tours, a shop that specializes in Midnight mementos and paraphernalia, and many of the characters in The Book have become national celebrities on their own.

John Berendt became rich. So did Savannah.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
Considering the phenomenal success of this all-time best-seller, a great many readers have already devoured this mesmerizing story, a combination murder mystery and travelogue about America's most beautiful, and quite possibly most eccentric, city. Suffice to say, if you haven't read it, do so. And even if you have, but it's been a while ago, and you are coming to Savannah, read it again. A compelling writer, meticulous researcher and persistent reporter, Berendt offers an intriguing inside glimpse into the lore, the psychology, idiosyncrasies and intrigues of this historical city by the river. --CS