Literary Savannah

Literary Savannah By multiple authors, including poet and writer Aberjhani, edited by Patrick Allen A Gem! Literary Savannah is the collection of multiple authors input on the beautiful city with a long and important history in Georgia. Having lived ourselves in this magnificent city and still calling it our home in our hearts, this book has not only charmed us, but has taught us much about the Savannah history as well as the history of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and partly Florida in general. The colonial cemetery was a large park crisscrossed with avenues where the finest trees in Savannah cast a constantly moving shade over paths of pink brick. Sycamores, catalpas, cork oaks, all bore in their foliage shreds of grey moss like long torn veils, stirring by the slightest breath of air. Originally from Barbados and borne by the wind, this almost ethereal vegetation added a melancholy element to even the most cheerful countryside land its strange attraction finally had its effect on the imagination. You could pull it out from the green depths, but it would come back, like some obsession...from Julien Green (1900-1998) The Distant Lands. Let us close our review with a few short strophes from Aberjhanie's poem Return to Savannah, because, after all who would not want to! Memories: vicious Like a thicket made hot With cobras. The wrong step or erroneous beat of the heart and I could turn into a tower, bursting with death. Legends tell the tourists that specters roam this city but I've no need for tales to explain the red-eyed shadows hopping like squirrels through the greenless branches of my immediate apprehension. I remember when they died. Stand amazed, now, watching them haunt reflections of their former lives... The stories of the area's history come to life as we turn the pages, read from the pen of Conrad Aiken, Sherwood Anderson, William Bartram, John Berendt, Emily Pilsbury Burke, Juliette Gordon Low, Johnny Mercer and Aberjhani and so many more. Of course even some ghost stories will be found, after all, Savannah is known to friends of the paranormal as the most haunted city in the South. Naturally, the South has always been of interest to us and our knowledge has been reasonable, but, after reading Literary Savannah, we felt truly educated and Savannah grew even dearer to our hearts. If you like the South, you should not miss out on this literary adventure, if you love Savannah, you really should include this exceptional work in your home library. © Birgit and Roger Pratcher, 2008

Literary Savannah was among the first in a series of literary travel anthologies published by Hill Street Press when the company was founded in 1998. To include the city of Savannah, Georgia, in such a series would have made good sense at pretty much any time but particularly during the last decade because of the spotlight cast on it by a developing film industry within the city and by the immense popularity of author John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The genius of this exceptional travel literary anthology is the eclectic mixture of names it includes. Some--like founding father George Washington and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano--many readers would not expect to find because of their globe-spanning historical stature. Others--like Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Lowe and songwriter Johnny Mercer--were natives of the city and therefore are less surprising. In total, the voices of some 37 writers, plus that of editor Patrick Allen, comprise the volume. Among those voices are such modern chroniclers of Savannah's ongoing story as: Pulitzer Prize-winner James Alan McPherson; journalist Tom Coffey; playwright and educator Ja A. Jahannes; author and writing instructor Rosemary Danielle; and the author of "Savannah Spectres," Margaret Wayt DeBolt. Much of the book's richness is also due to the variety of literary genres sampled within it. From passing glimpses of the city as jotted down in a notebook entry by novelist Henry James to famous declarations as made by General William T. Sherman in a letter to his commander in chief. Memoirs, fiction, essays, poetry, "true" accounts of hauntings, and songs all blend to create a finely balanced and nuanced portrait of one of the most uniquely beautiful cities in the United States. by Author-Poet Aberjhani author of "The Bridge of Silver Wings" and The Wisdom Of W.E.B. Du Bois (Wisdom Library)

I've been to Savannah I don't know how many times; have walked the streets and squares and read the historical markers; have devoured some local history and novels--such as MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. But, now I don't feel like I knew Savannah at all. I learned so much more in LITERARY SAVANNAH. I highly recommend it for anyone who has visited (and loved, of course) or is planning a visit to Savannah.

This book is exceptionally well done and brings all the facets of a Southern Gem - Savannah - together in one book. For anyone who loves the old South, I would strongly suggest this book. The compilation of stories show a rich wonderful city that has had its own share of joy and sorrow. The editor did a wonderful job pulling literary tones together in a unique and complimentary fashion, sounding a true lyrical tribute. My favorite stories are by Conrad Aiken and Flannery O'Connor. The description of Savannah by James Ogelthorpe is astonishing. The piece that stole my heart , however, was written by Aberjhani entitled "Return to Savannah." The voice of the poet moves the words straight to the core of the reader.

I can only visit this beautiful, ineffable city once a year, but this wonderful volume of literary gems makes me feel like I live there all year around. There is SO much more to know about the Hostess City of the South than one finds in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."