Critical Point 5:
The publication of John Berendt's novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (1994):
Although Savannah has always been a popular tourist destination of twentieth century, many writers believe that the biggest boom in its tourism business happened by the publication of the non-fiction or fraction novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt. The novel became the best seller in The New York Times for 216 weeks and soon was made into a movie. According the New Georgia Encyclopedia, the impact of the book “has been greater than that of any other book in the city's history”. “Hotel-motel tax revenues rose about twenty-five percent in the two years following publication of the book, and cottage industries related to Midnight in the Garden sprang up like morning glories: trolley tours of the main sites; candles in the shape of the Bird Girl (photographed by Jack Leigh for the dust jacket); T-shirts, mugs, postcards, a newsletter, even a gift shop devoted specifically to Midnightabilia. On April 22,1996, the Savannah Economic Development Authority honored Berendt with a special award, and Mayor Floyd Adams declared April 26 of that year "John Berendt Day.". Clearly, the book can be considered as an important milestone in the evolution of the city that created its firm foundation of economic prosperity through tourism.