Lambda Literary Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 7 (1995) Winner
John Berendt
ジョン・ベレント
John Berendt
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1939-12-05 （Syracuse, New York, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1961-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences (English) | English | A.B. | 1957–1961 | United States |
Harvard University
Faculty of Arts and Sciences (English)
/ English
Degree:
A.B.
Period:
1957–1961
Year of Graduation:
1961
Country:
United States
Worked on the staff of the Harvard Lampoon while a student
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) | Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil | 一般ノンフィクション | Pulitzer Prize | Finalist |
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction)
1995
Work:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Category:
一般ノンフィクション
Organization:
Pulitzer Prize
Result:
Finalist
Awards & Nominations
Exclusive Books Boeke Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1995) Winner
Works
Major Works
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
1994 Non-fiction (narrative nonfiction)Berendt chronicles the eccentric inhabitants of Savannah, centering on antiques dealer Jim Williams and the killing of Danny Hansford; the book blends detailed reporting with novelistic storytelling about community, crime, and Southern life.
Southern community and characterBoundary between fact and narrativeCommunity and scandal
Adaptations
- [Film] Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil / Clint Eastwood (1997)
The City of Falling Angels
2005 Non-fictionSet in Venice after the 1996 fire at La Fenice, the book interweaves lives of residents and artists, exploring the city's history, culture, and the personal stories revealed in the wake of the disaster.
Urban memoryArt and communityLoss and recovery
My Baby Blue Jays
2011 Children's bookA photographic children's book documenting a bluejay nest outside the author's window, following eggs hatching, chicks emerging, learning to fly and leaving the nest.
Nature observationGrowthParent-child bonds
Bibliography
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
- The City of Falling Angels
- My Baby Blue Jays
Adaptations
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (film, 1997)
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: The Jazz Concert
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (musical, Goodman Theatre Chicago 2024; planned Broadway run)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Narrative nonfiction blending reportage and novelistic storytellingCharacter-driven descriptive prose
- Recurring Motifs
- Insider views of local communitiesAssemblages of eccentric charactersHistory and memory
Legacy
With the enormous success of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Berendt gained significant recognition in narrative nonfiction. The book set a record with 216 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and spurred film and stage adaptations, increasing public interest in the locales and characters he portrayed.
Archives
- Esquire, Inc. Records (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
- Larry McMurtry Collection (Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin)
In Popular Culture
- 1997 film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood
- Musical adaptation premiered in Chicago in 2024 with planned Broadway run
Quotes
-
"Things would happen if I was simply there."
Source: Interview (1997) (1997)
Trivia
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil spent a record 216 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
- The book was adapted into a film directed by Clint Eastwood in 1997.
- A musical adaptation premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in 2024 and a Broadway run was announced for 2025 (as of announcement).