"In the Garden Behind the Moon" - Author Talk with Alexandra A. Chan

The Davenport House Museum will host “In the Garden Behind the Moon" Author Talk with Alexandra A. Chan on Friday, January 17. The evening begins with a preview of the "Old Chan Magic: Chinese Roots, Southern Branches" exhibit from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by an author talk, Q&A session and book signing from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Through the lens of grief, resilience and renewal, Chan will explore her path to healing by uncovering the stories and artifacts left by her father and ancestors. This event is $10 per person and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase on-site.

Chan, a distinguished archaeologist, artist and author, is a descendant of Robert and Annie Chan, former residents of the Davenport House and proprietors of the R.C. Chan, Tong & Co., a Chinese laundry that once occupied the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 E. Broughton St.

Chan will share insights from her deeply moving memoir, "In the Garden Behind the Moon," an extraordinary work that was honored as the Best Book of the Year in Multicultural Nonfiction at the American Book Fest Book Awards. In her memoir, Chan blends family history with personal discovery, taking readers on a journey from pre-revolution China to Jim Crow-era Savannah, the Pacific theater of WWII and the black sands of Iceland. Enriched with full-color Chinese brush paintings by the author and vintage photographs, "In the Garden Behind the Moon" serves as a powerful testament to the magic and wonder of daily life.

This program is presented in association with the City of Savannah Municipal Archives Hungry for History series as well as the new exhibition, “Old Chan Magic: Chinese Roots, Southern Branches.”

The "Old Chan Magic: Chinese Roots, Southern Branches" exhibit will be on display from January 16 through May 2025. The exhibit is free and open to the public. To learn more, please visit davenporthousemuseum.org.