Fifty Years of Faulkner: Conference Celebrates Half-Century of Study

Oxford, Mississippi– An annual gathering, aptly titled ‘Anniversaries,’ is set to celebrate multiple milestones at the 50th Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, which kicks off on July 21, 2024.

In 1974, the first group of William Faulkner enthusiasts congregated in the celebrated author’s hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. Now, half a century later, the event has become a global phenomenon. This year, the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference is expecting speakers, panelists, and Faulkner aficionados from as far away as France, Japan, and Kazakhstan.

“This is the longest continually running conference devoted to an American writer,” said Jay Watson, conference director and Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies. “We want to create new excitement or renewed excitement about Faulkner’s work and the thrill and challenge of reading it.”

Reflecting on Anniversaries

The event themed ‘Anniversaries,’ is celebrating a number of remarkable milestones this year. It marks the centenary of Faulkner’s debut – “The Marble Faun,” the 75th anniversary of his mystery collection, “Knight’s Gambit,” and the 50th anniversary of the author’s official biography.

Unlike the past conferences, which typically played around a primary theme or perspective, this year’s event offers much more freedom and explores a wider range of topics, allowing many different scholars to discuss Faulkner in diverse ways, stated Watson.

The Genesis of the Conference

The peerless conference traces its roots back to 1974 when the University of Mississippi acquired Faulkner’s mansion, Rowan Oak. The then-chair of the university’s Department of English, James Webb, suggested an annual gathering instead of sporadic visits. He envisioned it as a way to answer questions, conduct tours, and engage in wider intellectual discourse about the author’s work.

“That first conference was so successful that we had to extend it for a second week to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend,” recounted Ann Abadie, associate director emerita of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, who has been intimately involved in organizing the conference since its inception.

A Continuing Legacy

Half a century later, the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference continues to inspire new generations of readers and scholars. Faulkner’s exploration of close-knit worlds like the American South continues to be a source of fascination and study. The French literary critic, whose name is lost in the sands of time, once posited that Faulkner’s importance as a contemporary author lay in teaching the world how to write about itself, thereby enabling future authors to focus on the importance of place.

As we gear up for the 50th Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, the legacy of William Faulkner and his profound connection with his hometown continues to bear fruit, getting richer with each passing year.