Join us for a Goodman Theater Musical + Book Chat *On-the-Road* at the Albert Theater in Chicago's Loop on Wednesday, July 31st, from 2-5 pm!

This adventure features Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, but PRE-READING IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT…

Local Chicago theater lovers can enjoy a seductive musical performance inspired by the iconic New York Times best seller and opt meet up at intermission to discuss the show and book (in addition to an additional *optional* discussion before the show at 1 pm or after the show from 3:40-4 pm or later too).

PLEASE RSVP IN THE DROPDOWN MENU ABOVE, WHERE YOU CAN OPT TO PURCHASE A PHYSICAL COPY OF THE BOOK (OR PURCHASE AN AUDIOBOOK COPY SEPARATELY BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW), THEN PURCHASE YOUR MATINEE TICKETS FOR 7/31 (USING COUPON CODE BOOKCLUB FOR 25% OFF SELECT SEATS) AT WWW.GOODMANTHEATRE.COM/TICKETS!

ENTER THEATER10 FOR 10% OFF YOUR BOOK TOO!

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW: Southern charm is bountiful in Savannah, Georgia. But behind polite smiles, the eccentric residents are filled with secrets and motives. When wealthy antiques dealer Jim Williams is accused of murder, the sensational trial uncovers hidden truths and exposes the fine line between good and evil – which sparks Lady Chablis and other Savannahians to change the city forever. MacArthur “Genius” grantee Taylor Mac, Tony Award winners Jason Robert Brown and Rob Ashford, and choreographer Tanya Birl-Torres bring the true-crime blockbuster book and its beloved characters to life in a new musical adaptation.

 CLICK HERE FOR AN AUDIOBOOK COPY 

BOOK SYNOPSIS

THE LANDMARK NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - An enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city: "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 - 30th Anniversary Edition with a New Afterword by the Author.

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 true-crime book has become a modern classic.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Grown-Ups

OUR BOOKS ARE LISTED BY AGE GROUP to indicate that the content is engaging and appropriate for those selected ages. PLEASE NOTE: They may not be the appropriate reading level for every individual at those ages or may extend beyond the brackets.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Publisher: Vintage

Publish Date: June 28, 1999

Pages: 400

Dimensions: 5.1 X 7.8 X 1.0 inches | 0.55 pounds

Language: English

Type: Paperback

Condition: NEW