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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
A fatal shooting; some violence
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
Some
Gay relationship and lifestyle depicted; references to gay culture in the South
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking throughout in Savannah's party scene
Emotional Intensity
Some
Explores the ways Southern society accommodates eccentricity while maintaining rigid social rules
What this book is about
John Berendt's narrative nonfiction classic follows journalist Jim Williams, who is charged with shooting his young male companion Danny Hansford. Set in the glittering and eccentric world of Savannah's elite, the book uses the murder trial as a vehicle to explore Southern class, race, and the city's extraordinary cast of characters — including the voodoo practitioner Minerva.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
A fatal shooting as the central event
Gay relationships and Southern attitudes toward them
Voodoo practices described
Reader Verification
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