1. William Faulkner

2. “Old Colonel” Born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi, Born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi, First of four sons born to Murry and Maud Butler Falkner. First of four sons born to Murry and Maud Butler Falkner. Named after his great-grandfather, William Clark Falkner, “Old Colonel,” who had been killed eight years earlier in a duel with his former business partner Named after his great-grandfather, William Clark Falkner, “Old Colonel,” who had been killed eight years earlier in a duel with his former business partner William Clark Falkner William Clark Falkner A lawyer, politician, planter, businessman, Civil War colonel, railroad financier, and finally a best- selling writer, even in death, loomed as a larger-than-life model of personal and professional success for his male descendants. A lawyer, politician, planter, businessman, Civil War colonel, railroad financier, and finally a best- selling writer, even in death, loomed as a larger-than-life model of personal and professional success for his male descendants.

3. Early Love Childhood sweetheart, Estelle Oldham Childhood sweetheart, Estelle Oldham (popular, vivacious girl) Dated other boys, one of whom was Cornell Franklin, an Ole Miss law student who proposed marriage. Dated other boys, one of whom was Cornell Franklin, an Ole Miss law student who proposed marriage. –She lightheartedly accepted, apparently believing his request insincere. – He sent her an engagement ring several months later months later Her parents thought Franklin would be a fine husband for their daughter Her parents thought Franklin would be a fine husband for their daughter –She and Franklin were married in Oxford on April 18, 1918.

4. Falkner becomes Faulkner Faulkner first took a job with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company (where, for the first time, his name was spelled “Faulkner” in employee records, possibly the result of a typing error) Faulkner first took a job with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company (where, for the first time, his name was spelled “Faulkner” in employee records, possibly the result of a typing error) -Faulkner had tried to join the U.S. Army Air Force -turned down because of his height. He accepted an invitation to become a cadet in training in the Royal Air Force in Canada. He accepted an invitation to become a cadet in training in the Royal Air Force in Canada. –he lied about numerous facts, including his birth date and birthplace, in an attempt to pass himself as British. –spelled his name “Faulkner,” believing it looked more British, -with RAF officials he affected a British accent.

5. Soldier’s Pay The war ended. He received an honorable discharge The war ended. He received an honorable discharge Bought an officer’s dress uniform and a set of wings for the breast pocket Bought an officer’s dress uniform and a set of wings for the breast pocket Though he had seen no combat in his wartime military service, upon returning to Oxford in December 1918, he allowed others to believe he had. He told many stories of his adventures Though he had seen no combat in his wartime military service, upon returning to Oxford in December 1918, he allowed others to believe he had. He told many stories of his adventures –including injuries that had left him in constant pain and with a silver plate in his head. His brief service in the RAF would also serve him in his written fiction, particularly in his first published novel, Soldiers’ Pay, in 1926. His brief service in the RAF would also serve him in his written fiction, particularly in his first published novel, Soldiers’ Pay, in 1926.

6. University of Mississippi In 1919 enrolled at the University of Mississippi In 1919 enrolled at the University of MississippiUniversity of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi under a special provision for under a special provision for war veterans, even though he had war veterans, even though he had never graduated from high school. never graduated from high school. While a student at Ole Miss, While a student at Ole Miss, he published poems and short he published poems and short stories in the campus newspaper. stories in the campus newspaper. After three semesters of study at After three semesters of study at Ole Miss, he dropped out in November 1920. Over the next few years, Faulkner wrote reviews, poems, and prose pieces. Ole Miss, he dropped out in November 1920. Over the next few years, Faulkner wrote reviews, poems, and prose pieces.

7. Odd Jobs Job in New York City as an assistant in a bookstore Job in New York City as an assistant in a bookstore Most notorious job during this period was his stint as postmaster in the university post office Most notorious job during this period was his stint as postmaster in the university post office –he was a terrible postmaster, spending much of his time reading or playing cards with friends, misplacing or losing mail, and failing to serve customers. During this period, he also served as a scoutmaster for the Oxford Boy Scout troop, but he was asked to resign for “moral reasons” (probably drinking). During this period, he also served as a scoutmaster for the Oxford Boy Scout troop, but he was asked to resign for “moral reasons” (probably drinking).

8. Travels In January 1925, Faulkner moved to New Orleans and fell in with a literary crowd In January 1925, Faulkner moved to New Orleans and fell in with a literary crowd –Sherwood Anderson – Liked his study of small- town life in his works (Like his Yoknapatawpha) Faulkner published several essays and sketches in The Double Dealer and in the New Orleans Times-Picayune Faulkner published several essays and sketches in The Double Dealer and in the New Orleans Times-Picayune He wrote his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay He wrote his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay (Self-conscious tale about the lost generation) Faulkner sailed from New Orleans Faulkner sailed from New Orleans to Europe, arriving in Italy on to Europe, arriving in Italy on August 2. August 2. The next several months lived The next several months lived near Paris, France near Paris, France

9. Faulkner’s New Theme: The American South Microcosm of universal themes of time, the human heart, and the destruction of the wilderness. Microcosm of universal themes of time, the human heart, and the destruction of the wilderness. South was a nation unto itself South was a nation unto itself –Strong sense of its noble past –Array of myths by which it clung to its pride, despite its humiliating defeat in the Civil War and enforced acceptance of the distasteful values of an industrial North.

10. YOKNAPATAWHPHA Faulkner considered some advice Anderson had given him, that he should write about his native region. Faulkner considered some advice Anderson had given him, that he should write about his native region. In doing so, he drew upon both regional geography and family history (particularly his great-grandfather’s Civil War and post-war exploits) to create “Yocona” County, later renamed “Yoknapatawpha.” In doing so, he drew upon both regional geography and family history (particularly his great-grandfather’s Civil War and post-war exploits) to create “Yocona” County, later renamed “Yoknapatawpha.” “Beginning with Sartoris I discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it, and by sublimating the actual into apocryphal I would have complete liberty to use whatever talent I might have to its absolute top” ( Lion in the Garden 255). “Beginning with Sartoris I discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it, and by sublimating the actual into apocryphal I would have complete liberty to use whatever talent I might have to its absolute top” ( Lion in the Garden 255).

11. Faulkner’s Fictional Families He described the South through fictional families who often reappear from novel to novel. He described the South through fictional families who often reappear from novel to novel. “They resemble trees, attaining grandeur, casting much shade, and then growing old and dry, crumbling as the seedlings of social change grow up around their fallen limbs and stumps.” “They resemble trees, attaining grandeur, casting much shade, and then growing old and dry, crumbling as the seedlings of social change grow up around their fallen limbs and stumps.”

12. Faulkner’s Fictional Families Sartoris family Sartoris family –Aristocrats –Resemble Faulkner’s own ancestors –Colonel John Sartoris- patterned after Faulkner’s great-grandfather who rose from rural poverty to command the Second Mississippi Regiment, built a railroad, wrote a best-selling novel, and was murdered on the street.

13. Faulkner’s Fictional Families Compson family Compson family –Incorporate some characteristics of the author’s immediate family –Centerpiece of his novel The Sound and the Fury

14. Faulkner’s Fictional Families Bundren family Bundren family –Poor white family – As I Lay Dying : Tells of the Bundren family’s efforts to bring the body of its matriarch, Addie, back to the town of Jefferson for burial –These humble people are more enduring than their social betters

15. Faulkner’s Fictional Families Snopes family Snopes family –Sprawling clan of irresponsible, depraved, socially ambitious varmints who rise from the dust and cheat their way to respectability and wealth, destroying the old values of aristocracy and peasantry alike

16. The Sound and the Fury A revolutionary novel in style and content, it was divided into four discrete sections, the first three of which are told by brothers in a single family. A revolutionary novel in style and content, it was divided into four discrete sections, the first three of which are told by brothers in a single family. The first section is told by an idiot with no concept of time — his narrative slips easily back and forth in time with no warning to the reader except for a usual brief shift to italic typeface. The first section is told by an idiot with no concept of time — his narrative slips easily back and forth in time with no warning to the reader except for a usual brief shift to italic typeface. Individually, each section is revealing both stylistically and as an exploration of character; together, however, the four parts operate to reveal the slow demise of a once-prominent southern family, which is demonstrated most explicitly in the gradual decline and disappearance of the brothers’ sister, Caddy Compson. Individually, each section is revealing both stylistically and as an exploration of character; together, however, the four parts operate to reveal the slow demise of a once-prominent southern family, which is demonstrated most explicitly in the gradual decline and disappearance of the brothers’ sister, Caddy Compson. Taking his title from a soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Macbeth which refers to life as “a tale told by an idiot,” Faulkner called the novel The Sound and the Fury. Taking his title from a soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Macbeth which refers to life as “a tale told by an idiot,” Faulkner called the novel The Sound and the Fury.

17. Family In April, Estelle Oldham had divorced Cornell Franklin, and in June she and Faulkner were married In April, Estelle Oldham had divorced Cornell Franklin, and in June she and Faulkner were married Estelle brought to the marriage two children, Malcolm and Victoria, and after a honeymoon in Pascagoula, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they lived in Oxford. Estelle brought to the marriage two children, Malcolm and Victoria, and after a honeymoon in Pascagoula, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they lived in Oxford. Faulkner, now working nights at a power Faulkner, now working nights at a power plant, wrote As I Lay Dying, later claiming it was a “tour de force” and that he had written it “in six weeks, without changing a word.” plant, wrote As I Lay Dying, later claiming it was a “tour de force” and that he had written it “in six weeks, without changing a word.”

18. As I Lay Dying As I Lay Dying is a masterfully written successor to The Sound and the Fury. As I Lay Dying is a masterfully written successor to The Sound and the Fury. the novel focuses on a family and is told stream-of-conscious style by different narrators, but rather than an aristocratic family, the focus here is on lower-class farm laborers from southern Yoknapatawpha County the novel focuses on a family and is told stream-of-conscious style by different narrators, but rather than an aristocratic family, the focus here is on lower-class farm laborers from southern Yoknapatawpha County the Bundrens, whose matriarch, Addie, has died and had asked to be buried in Jefferson, “a day’s hard ride away” to the north. The journey to Jefferson is fraught with perils of fire and flood (from the rain-swollen Yoknapatawpha River) as well as the family members’ inner feelings of grief and loss. The novel would be published in October 1930.

19. Rowan Oak He bought a decrepit antebellum house in Oxford, which plunged him further into debt but in which he would find comfort and pleasure for the rest of his life. He bought a decrepit antebellum house in Oxford, which plunged him further into debt but in which he would find comfort and pleasure for the rest of his life. Faulkner named the house “Rowan Oak,” after a Scottish legend alluding to the protective powers of wood from the rowan tree. Faulkner named the house “Rowan Oak,” after a Scottish legend alluding to the protective powers of wood from the rowan tree. Faulkner saw the first national publication of a short story he had written, “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner saw the first national publication of a short story he had written, “A Rose for Emily,” Over the coming years, as sales of his novels sagged, he would write numerous short stories for publication, especially in the Saturday Evening Post, as a principal means of financial support. Over the coming years, as sales of his novels sagged, he would write numerous short stories for publication, especially in the Saturday Evening Post, as a principal means of financial support.

21. Alabama and Joe Christmas Estelle gave birth to a daughter, Alabama. The child, born prematurely, would live only a few days. Estelle gave birth to a daughter, Alabama. The child, born prematurely, would live only a few days. Soon after Alabama’s death, Faulkner began writing a novel tentatively titled Dark House, which would feature a man of uncertain racial lineage who, as an orphaned child, was named Joe Christmas. Soon after Alabama’s death, Faulkner began writing a novel tentatively titled Dark House, which would feature a man of uncertain racial lineage who, as an orphaned child, was named Joe Christmas. In this, Faulkner’s first major exploration of race, he examines the lives of outcasts in Yoknapatawpha County In this, Faulkner’s first major exploration of race, he examines the lives of outcasts in Yoknapatawpha County At the center of the novel is the orphan, the enigmatic Joe Christmas, who defies easy categorization into either race, white or black. The novel would be published as Light in August in October 1932 At the center of the novel is the orphan, the enigmatic Joe Christmas, who defies easy categorization into either race, white or black. The novel would be published as Light in August in October 1932

22. Jill, Dean, and Dean In June, Estelle gave birth to Faulkner’s only surviving daughter, Jill. In June, Estelle gave birth to Faulkner’s only surviving daughter, Jill. in November, his brother Dean was killed in a crash of the Waco which Faulkner had given him. in November, his brother Dean was killed in a crash of the Waco which Faulkner had given him. Married only a month before to Louise Hale, Dean would be survived by a daughter (to be Married only a month before to Louise Hale, Dean would be survived by a daughter (to be born in March 1936), who would be named born in March 1936), who would be named Dean after her father. Faulkner would Dean after her father. Faulkner would take complete responsibility for the take complete responsibility for the education of his niece. education of his niece.

23. The year 1932 would mark the beginning of a new sometime profession for Faulkner, as screenwriter in Hollywood. The year 1932 would mark the beginning of a new sometime profession for Faulkner, as screenwriter in Hollywood. In April 1932, Faulkner signed a six-week contract In April 1932, Faulkner signed a six-week contract what would be the first of many stints as screenwriter in Hollywood. what would be the first of many stints as screenwriter in Hollywood. Faulkner returned to Oxford in August after the sudden death of his father. With the addition of his mother to his growing number of dependents, Faulkner needed money. Faulkner returned to Oxford in August after the sudden death of his father. With the addition of his mother to his growing number of dependents, Faulkner needed money. He returned to Hollywood in October with his mother and younger brother Dean, and sold Paramount the rights to film Sanctuary. He returned to Hollywood in October with his mother and younger brother Dean, and sold Paramount the rights to film Sanctuary.

24. Alcoholism Back in Oxford in January 1936, Back in Oxford in January 1936, Faulkner spent what would be the Faulkner spent what would be the first of many stays at Wright’s Sanitarium, a nursing home facility in Byhalia, Mississippi, where Faulkner would go to recover from his drinking binges. Not an alcoholic in a clinical sense, Faulkner nevertheless would sometimes go on extended drinking binges, oftentimes at the conclusion of a writing project; on occasion, he would even plan when to begin and end such binges. first of many stays at Wright’s Sanitarium, a nursing home facility in Byhalia, Mississippi, where Faulkner would go to recover from his drinking binges. Not an alcoholic in a clinical sense, Faulkner nevertheless would sometimes go on extended drinking binges, oftentimes at the conclusion of a writing project; on occasion, he would even plan when to begin and end such binges.

25. He agreed to meet in question-and- answer sessions with English classes at the University of Mississippi, but he invited controversy when his candid statement about Hemingway — “he has no courage, has never climbed out on a limb... has never used a word where the reader might check his usage by a dictionary” — was included in a press release about the sessions. He agreed to meet in question-and- answer sessions with English classes at the University of Mississippi, but he invited controversy when his candid statement about Hemingway — “he has no courage, has never climbed out on a limb... has never used a word where the reader might check his usage by a dictionary” — was included in a press release about the sessions. Faulkner vs. Hemingway

26. When Hemingway read the remarks, he was hurt, moved even to write a letter answering the charge that he lacked “courage,” but when it grew too long, he asked a friend, Brigadier General C.T. Lanham to write and tell Faulkner only what he knew about Hemingway’s heroism as a war correspondent. Faulkner vs. Hemingway

27. Almost immediately, Faulkner replied, apologizing for the misunderstanding and pain caused by his remarks, explaining that it was a garbled, incomplete version of what he had said, but he defended his comment by saying that it referred only to Hemingway’s craftsmanship as a writer and told how he was judging the quality of writing on its degree of failures, that Hemingway was next to last because he didn’t have the courage to risk “bad taste, over-writing, dullness, etc.” He wrote Hemingway also, including a copy of the letter to Lanham, again apologizing and saying, “I hope it wont matter a damn to you. But if or whe[ne]ver it does, please accept another squirm from yours truly.”

28. Nobel Prize In June 1950, Faulkner was awarded the Howells Medal for distinguished work in American fiction. In June 1950, Faulkner was awarded the Howells Medal for distinguished work in American fiction. Faulkner received word that the Swedish Academy had voted to award him and Bertrand Russell as co-recipients of the Nobel Prize for literature, Russell for 1950 and Faulkner for the previous year. Faulkner received word that the Swedish Academy had voted to award him and Bertrand Russell as co-recipients of the Nobel Prize for literature, Russell for 1950 and Faulkner for the previous year. At first he refused to go to Stockholm to receive the award, but pressured by the U.S. State Department, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, and finally by his own family, he agreed to go. At first he refused to go to Stockholm to receive the award, but pressured by the U.S. State Department, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, and finally by his own family, he agreed to go.

29. Poor Speaker On December 10, he delivered his acceptance speech to the academy in a voice so low and rapid that few could make out what he was saying, but when his words were published in the newspaper the following day, it was recognized for its brilliance; in later years, Faulkner’s speech would be lauded as the best speech ever given at a Nobel ceremony. On December 10, he delivered his acceptance speech to the academy in a voice so low and rapid that few could make out what he was saying, but when his words were published in the newspaper the following day, it was recognized for its brilliance; in later years, Faulkner’s speech would be lauded as the best speech ever given at a Nobel ceremony.

30. Death On June 17, Faulkner was again injured by a third fall from a horse. On June 17, Faulkner was again injured by a third fall from a horse. In constant pain now, he signaled something was wrong when he asked on July 5 to be taken to Wright’s Sanatarium in Byhalia. Though he had been a patient there many times, he had always been taken there before against his will. In constant pain now, he signaled something was wrong when he asked on July 5 to be taken to Wright’s Sanatarium in Byhalia. Though he had been a patient there many times, he had always been taken there before against his will. Less than eight hours later, at about 1:30 a.m. on July 6, 1962 — the Old Colonel’s birthday — his heart stopped, and though the doctor on duty applied external heart massage for forty-five minutes, he could not resuscitate him. Less than eight hours later, at about 1:30 a.m. on July 6, 1962 — the Old Colonel’s birthday — his heart stopped, and though the doctor on duty applied external heart massage for forty-five minutes, he could not resuscitate him. William Faulkner was dead of a heart attack at the age of 64. William Faulkner was dead of a heart attack at the age of 64. He was buried on July 7 at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Oxford. He was buried on July 7 at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Oxford. “Until he’s buried he belongs to the family. After that, he belongs to the world.” “Until he’s buried he belongs to the family. After that, he belongs to the world.”