Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Book Reports Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Savannah is the city of Southeast Georgia near the mouth of the Savannah River. James Ogelthorpe founded it in 1733, it is the oldest city in Georgia and has been a major port since the early 19th century (Soukhanov, p.1606). Savannah has been called that gently mannered city by the sea and indeed it is, with Spanish moss hanging from the huge oak trees and the shine of the moon reflecting off the pillars of Savannah’s grand mansions. Ones imagination can conjure up a simple setting where the clop of hooves on the cobblestone streets echo in the mind and sweat from the glass of a delicious madiera leaves a ring on the tabletop. I think that Jim Williams said it best. “You mustn’t be taken in by the moonlight and magnolias. There’s more to Savannah than that. Things can get very murky” (Berendt, p.11). The book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was written by John Berendt, it is his non-fiction account of the time he spent in Savannah. Berendt was sent from his home in New York to write a magazine article about Mr. Jim Williams grand Christmas parties in Savannah. Unbeknownst to Berendt, he had just stumbled into the middle of a much better story: the Hansford slaying and the subsequent legal battles of Williams. Berendt also met a host of eccentric, even preposterous Savannahians. Here, he realized, was the sort of local color that most novelists could only dream about (www.Savannahnow.com). How can quaint Savannahians be considered preposterous? As compelling as the murder story and the resulting trial are to Berendt’s tale, I believe it’s the magnificent portrayal of the history of Savannah and the cast of quirky almost unbelievable characters that populate the city. Let me tell you about some of these truly unique citizens of Savannah that John Berendt met during his stay there. Jim Williams, the owner of a Savannah antiques store, was a self-made millionaire known for both his loving restorations of local houses and his grand parties. Williams never really felt the embrace of Savannah’s wealthy constituency. Although his bank account certainly qualified him for entry into their circle, he was nouveau riche, and hence, an outsider. Old money and aristocracy hold a lot of weight in the South. Williams answered their snobbery with “It’s the riche that counts” (Berendt, p.7). Williams lived in a mansion known as Mercer House, it was built in 1861 and stands at the west end of Monterey Square. Mercer House is the center stage for much of the book. It is also where his well-known Christmas parties were held and its study was the site of the shooting of Danny Hansford. While we’re on the subject, Danny Hansford was a part-time employee and houseguest of Williams. Hansford was a young man that had quite a reputation in Savannah for his violent temper and his sexual proclivity to service both men and women. Not to mention his abusive use of drugs and alcohol, which helps explain why he had been in and out of jail so many times. Despite all the fights they had and the numerous times Williams had to bail him out of jail, he still gave Danny another chance. All of that soon changed though. One night Hansford and Williams were playing a video game when Hansford suddenly broke out in a violent rage. After much commotion Williams went up to his study where Hansford soon followed with a German Luger. He pointed it at Williams who was sitting behind the desk and said, “I’m leaving tomorrow, but you’re leaving tonight” (Berendt, p.172). With that, he fired at Williams missing him with the first shot. Then he went to shoot again but the gun had jammed. As Hansford fooled with it Williams grabbed his own gun that he keeps in the study and fired. Hansford fell to the floor dead. Williams claims self-defense and a trial ensues. Through a complicated mix of legal maneuvers, Williams is tried four separate times for the murder. He was the only man to have achieved that distinction in Georgia. After Eight years of trials and stipulations, Jim Williams was acquitted (www.goodandevil.com). Bibliography: Word Count: 705
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