More Private Library Photos

  I have presented many posts about libraries, private ones as well as other kinds. A few weeks ago, I included some photos of the libraries of Eric Hobsbawm and William T. Vollman. Once again, I have stumbled upon another article which included some pictures of a writer sitting among his books.

John Berendt's Books
   This may not be Mr. Berendt's library and he may have more books scattered among the photographs, art and a collection of gongs which are described in the article.  Apparently gongs are a way to send guests "out in style." Somewhere in his collection, he surely has a copy of the book for which he is best known - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
   Before he wrote that book, he produced many columns for Esquire, mainly about men's clothes and manners. The rather narrow focus was broadened and "Berendt found a tantalizing story in every subject. The columns in “Classics” reveal gruesome and useful facts — for example, the skin of wild animals is better for gloves, because it’s more supple. He included debonair, noble characters like Benjamin Guggenheim, who sacrificed his spot on a lifeboat on the Titanic and then put on his white tie and tails to die “like a gentleman.” And he debunked myths, such as one about Bermuda shorts, which are not from Bermuda; another about the argyle pattern, which is not connected to the Argyle family (and they don’t like it when you ask).”

   The columns have been collected and are found in this new book: Class Act: A Gentleman's Guide to Dressing Well, published by Penguin Random House.
  "Full of surprising facts, unforgettable characters, and amusing anecdotes, this fully illustrated collection of snappy, elegant essays is as stylish as its subject matter. Part cultural history, part handbook, Class Act serves as a reminder that the clothing we wear is not simply fabric, but a reflection of our character… and sometimes our sheer audacity. A wildly entertaining ride through men’s style and its place in our collective imagination, Class Act makes a strong case that taste and wit will never go out of fashion."
   Apparently Mr. Berendt can be defined as "dapper". We can use a primer such as this these days since many more people are seen out and about in pajamas than pinstripe suits.
Source: 
  "Famous for His Tale of Murder, He Honed His Literary Voice in Fashion: Before John Berendt Wrote His Classic “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: He Trained His Keen Eye on Men’s Wear and Manners in a Long-running Esquire Column," Maggie Lange, NYT, Oct. 13, 2026.

Post Script: 
  I have not read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but I did see the movie which was directed by Clint Eastwood. It takes place in spooky Savannah, but Mr. Berendt lives on the Upper West Side. 

  I was a fan of Esquire in those days. Weldon Library has some old issues, but unfortunately they are on microfilm. The LPL offers access to the eMagazine and they have a couple of compilations including: Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook a Man Will Ever Need.
  For another fine library in Manhattan, look at this one which belongs to Amor Towles.  See The Talented Mr. Towles.