Must-read William Faulker

[Yenta]

Seeking recommendation: What is the one Faulkner work (novel, short story collection, whatever) that I should read before a visit to Rowan Oak and a drive through the "real" Yoknapatawpha County?

OK, how about your top two recommendations?

Thank you.

[Michael]

Light in August was my favorite.
For short stories, The Unvanquished is great.
Otherwise, Sanctuary, Absalom, Requiem for a Num and The Hamlet are all accessible.
The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying are superb but rather complex if you have never tackled Faulkner before.
Have a great trip!!

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

The Reivers is also great if you're new to Faulkner, and I second The Unvanquished. Any of his short stories, particularly A Rose for Emily. Go Down Moses is a great collection as well. And, I might add, I'm jealous.

[mark]

Light in August has been my favorite since reading it waaaay back in high school. more recently, I loved The Old Man, I thought Sanctuary was interesting, and didn't care for Requiem for a Nun.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Susan wrote: "Seeking recommendation: What is the one Faulkner work (novel, short story collection, whatever) that I should read before a visit to Rowan Oak and a drive through the "real" Yoknapatawpha County?

..."

Susan, I've read and re-read Faulkner for over forty years. Living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I make it to Faulkner Country several times a year. It's good for the soul, I always say. My favorite novel is Light in August. I join with Diane in recommending A Rose for Emily and Other Stories. However, if I were to recommend one book before visiting Oxford it would be Flags in the Dust which begins Faulkner's saga of Yoknawpatawpha County. Faulkner based much of the background on his "postage stamp" of the world on his own family history. Faulkner's great grandfather's grave is in Ripley, Ms. Worth the trip. The Old Colonel's tomb is a larger than life statue topping a towering pillar. The Colonel was a politician, founded a railroad, and published a bestseller all before being gunned down by a political rival the morning after the Colonel defeated him in an election. Walk the Square in Oxford. You'll notice a little dress shop, Duval's. Formerly it was the Bank run by Faulkner's Grandfather. Both Faulkner's Great Grandfather and Grandfather are the bases for founding fathers of Yoknawpatawpha County.

Look for a fading Rexall Drug logo on the second floor in the same block as Square Books. That was Gaither and Reed's Drug Store. Faulkner walked most evenings from Rowan Oak to chew the fat and check out the latest arrivals in mysteries. They were Faulkner's guilty pleasures. Mack ran a library. Borrowers signed a checkout card for books borrowed. Somebody figured out Faulkner's signature might be valuable. Cards signed by him began to disappear. Mack forged Faulkner's signature on every checkout card. True or town legend? I don't know. But I accept it. GRIN

Be sure to visit the Faulkner Room in the Library at Ole Miss. It's a must see.

Best wishes for a wonderful and very memorable trip.

Mike
"Lawyer Stevens"

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Agree visit the library for sure.

[John]

I second Mike's suggestion, Flags in the Dust. Now be sure to get that one Rather than the abridged version Satoris. This is a good entry to the Faulkner collection. One which feeds into a few story lines. Not particularly difficult but there is some stream of consciousness, and ya gotta pay attention.

Let me suggest a link to take a look at. Genealogy is a recurring theme with this guy and charts help immensely. and still it is confusing.
http://cypress.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjb...

http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/inde...

Yurs
jt

[Yenta]

Thank you all for your many wonderful suggestions. A special thanks to Lawyer Stevens, for details about visiting Oxford that I never would have gotten otherwise. I love your story about the library cards. It sits in that dimly lit world: could be truth, could be fiction. My father, a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech and a wonderful storyteller himself, said that adherence to the facts should not get in the way of a good story.

[Bob]

If you're coming to Faulkner for the first time, I'd start with the first two sections of his COLLECTED STORIES. The stories in these two sections ("The Country" and "The Village") are a great introduction into Faulkner's world. I'd also read his essay "Mississippi." You can't go wrong with any of these.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

This is a great conversation. I've read and enjoyed a couple of his stories but have been scared off by the novels. I may refer to these recommendations in the future.

[John]

Son, I say Son.
You'll always be a little chicken unless you grab the big dog by the tale.

Foghorn Leghorn

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

John wrote: "Son, I say Son.
You'll always be a little chicken unless you grab the big dog by the tale.

Foghorn Leghorn"

Love it!

[Still]

I would recommend "The Snopes Trilogy": The Hamlet , The Town, and The Mansion - also available as THE SNOPES TRILOGY (The Hamlet, The Town, The Mansion) + THE UNVANQUISHED: -
If you read those three, you'll be a Faulkner believer forever.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I love Foghorn Leghorn! He was a wise chicken.

[John]

He comes to visit Tom on occasion.

[Oscar]

Still wrote: "I would recommend "The Snopes Trilogy": The Hamlet , The Town, and The Mansion - also available as [book:THE SNOPES TRILOGY (The Hamlet, The Town, The Mansio..."

Wherever one starts, getting into Faulkner is easier than getting over him. After all these years, about half the stuff I write sounds like bad Faulkner. As our wise leader Lawyer suggested, beginning with considerations of genealogy is interesting and oh so southern. At funerals around here conversation meanders into family connections, and forgotten is the poor dead sap in the coffin.

[Cheryl Carroll]

For my GR buddies, you do not have to become a fb member to participate in this virtual, no cost event. If you would like to attend you will have to message me so that I can send you the zoom link when it becomes available (a few days before the meeting).

[Cheryl Carroll]

This is not an academic event, where you have to have read all of Faulkner and studied his work and researched themes, etc. It was suggested by Carl Rollyson, and then I was able to get the other scholars on board as well! This image is an intro to him, and I can share the others as they become available. You are welcome to message me with any questions. And if you do want to join the WFBC on fb, put "Cheryl Carroll GR buddy" in the answer field. 😉

[Lisa (NY)]

Susan wrote: "Seeking recommendation: What is the one Faulkner work (novel, short story collection, whatever) that I should read before a visit to Rowan Oak and a drive through the "real" Yoknapatawpha County?

..."
Light in August is also my favorite and a great one to start with.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

I'd agree with Lisa, Light in August is a great place to start, but I'd also recommend The Unvanquished and maybe one or two of his short stories ( A Rose for Emily, That Evening Sun, Barn Burning ).

[Catherine]

Every day by the sun
By Dean Faulkner wells

This book was written by William Faulkner’s niece . Its an insiders view of growing up Faulkner. She grew up exploring Rowan Oak. If you want to learn more about the Faulkner family I would recommend this book.

[Cheryl Carroll]

Catherine wrote: "Every day by the sun
By Dean Faulkner wells

This book was written by William Faulkner’s niece . Its an insiders view of growing up Faulkner. She grew up exploring Rowan Oak. If you want to learn m..."

I am so happy to read this!!!

The Ghosts of Rowan Oak: William Faulkner's Ghost Stories for Children is another publication by the late Dean Faulkner Wells that you might enjoy.

There are dozens of WF biographies. Joseph Blotner's was the first authorized bio, with permission granted by Faulkner's widow Estelle. If you are interested in modern, easy to consume bios, I recommend the following. Listed in publication order:

Myself and the World: A Biography of William Faulkner by Robert Hamblin, 2002

Becoming Faulkner: The Art and Life of William Faulkner by Philip Weinstein, 2012

William Faulkner Day by Day by Carl Rollyson, 2022

[Cheryl Carroll]

Philip Weinstein's audio version of Simply Faulkner is free on Hoopla.