"The statues of Savannah's Monument Square are silent. The statue of the solemn girl in Bonaventure Cemetery—made famous in John Berendt's blockbuster book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—can't speak. Only Savannah's literary monuments can give voice to the rich and diverse history of one of America's greatest cities; one that has for centuries inspired fascination worldwide. Many have written about Savannah, but few have captured the true spirit of southern grace most often associated with her history as well as the mysteries and humor that await behind the walled gardens and gated homes." --Patrick Allen, editor   CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS   --Return to Savannah / Aberjhani --From An account of Carolina and Georgia / James Oglethorpe --Origin legend of the Creek people / Chekilli -- From On love / John Wesley -- From The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African / Olaudah Equiano -- Letter to Savannah's Hebrew congregation / George Washington -- From Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida / William Bartram -- The lament of the captive / Richard Henry Wilde -- From Pleasure and pain : reminiscences of Georgia in the 1840s / Emily Pillsbury Burke -- Letter to Kate Perry / William Makepeace Thackeray -- Sut blown up with soda / George Washington Harris -- From Fast and loose in Dixie / J. Madison Drake -- From Treasure Island / Robert Louis Stevenson -- From The memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman, written by himself / General William Tecumseh Sherman -- The cotton gin / Joel Chandler Harris -- From The American scene / Henry James -- From Thousand mile walk to the Gulf / John Muir -- Savannah twice visited / William Dean Howells -- Memories of my girlhood / Juliette Gordon Low -- Adrift in Georgia : Savannah / Sherwood Anderson / --Foreword to Harrriet Ross Colquitt's The Savannah cook book / Ogden Nash -- From The damned don't cry / Harry Hervey -- Strange moonlight / Conrad Aiken -- The king of the birds / Flannery O'Connor -- From A matter of vocabulary / James Alan McPherson -- From Beulah Land / Lonnie Coleman -- From A lion's share / Mark Steadman -- Untitled song lyric / Johnny Mercer -- From Halloween / Ben Geer -- Madeira and moonshine / Alexander A. Lawrence -- The haunted library / Margaret Wayt DeBolt -- From Sleeping with soldiers / Rosemary Daniell -- From The distant lands / Julien Green -- From The dangerous lives of altar boys / Chris Fuhrman --From Midnight in the garden of good and evil : a Savannah story / John Berendt -- Gambling, liquor, and vice / Tom Coffey -- The death of Tomochichi / Ja J. Jahannes.         Excerpt "Whether born there or simply passing through, Savannah is a town that has inspired writers for centuries and, at last, in Literary Savannah the city's story is told." --Patrick Allen, editor

Professional Reviews
A WONDERFUL AMALGAMATION OF SAVANNAH--PAST AND PRESENT
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.
--Amazon.com Reviewer, 5 Stars


THE NEW CROP OF SAVANNAH'S LITERATI
What will attract buyers to LITERARY SAVANNAH will probably be the rich collection of stories and bon mots by the cream of Savannah's local and living (kicking and screaming) literati. The wry, slightly wicked, Tom Coffey is not omitted from these pages, nor is Rosemary Danielle who celebrates Savannah's over-the-top quality in an excerpt from 'Sleeping with Soldiers.'

"Margaret Wayt DeBolt's entry 'The Haunted Library' will interest devotees of the supernatural. And local poet and story teller Aberjhani is a presence with his contribution, 'RETURN TO SAVANNAH.'

"Though there's little subversion present in the pages of LITERARY SAVANNAH, Ja A. Jahannes does provide a surprisingly pointed comment on the exploitation and subsequent historical revisionism of the Yamacraw Indians which is not just good protest, but also beautiful and powerful poetry."
--Lynn Hamilton, CREATIVE LOAFING


SPEAKING OF SAVANNAH
"[Editor] Allen states that his one hope is that he will be able to give readers insight into the city's history and cultural life and possibly inspire discussion and debate. In the end, the book reads as Allen himself hopes it will."
--Margarita Venegas, THE GEORGIA GUARDIAN

Reader Reviews for "Literary Savannah"

Reviewed by Birgit and Roger Pratcher	2/14/2008
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
Reviewed by Michael Guy	11/6/2007
This sounds great. Including: John Muir! (from a book I've read twice) but so much else and I am intensely interested in Savannah and Georgia in general right now. So now I have 3 of your books or reccomendations I must buy! But I'll trade them all for a new volume of your poetry!
Reviewed by Susan de Vegter	6/27/2007
Try to find "By the Edge of Raven Pool" I think Hervey wrote this one too. Being a Savannah native, a Telfair baby, I am very proud of you my friend. Love, Susan
Reviewed by Mitzi Jackson	2/26/2007
Man you are such an inspiration there is nothing that you can't do!!! say blessed! best wishes to you and yours
Reviewed by Andre Bendavi ben-YEHU	2/13/2007
May this "Literary Savannah" reach the bestseller's list and help promote Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, The Wisdom of W. E. B. Du Bois, Visions of A Skylark Dressed in Black, I Made My Boy Out of Poetry, THE HANGING MA..., and Elemental Congratulations and millioNatio$$$$$$ In admiration, Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Reviewed by Chrissy McVay	2/7/2007
Congratulations on the release of your new book! Chrissy
Reviewed by Karen Vanderlaan	2/6/2007
congrats on the inclusion in an amazing collection!!
Reviewed by Randall Barfield	2/6/2007
great for a collection of southern lit, etc. My, what names you accompany in that list...my sincerest congratulations. hope we see more stuff soon. a fan

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