American South: Southern Literature

Faulkner’s writing has deeply affected current Southern literature and culture, so web sites focusing exclusively on him provide a good way for initiates and enthusiasts alike to explore his influential body of work. Chronologies, bibliographies of his notoriously difficult masterpieces, and articles about his hometown, Oxford, Mississippi, on which he based the fictional setting for his books, animate these sites. To assess Faulkner’s impact on the entertainment industry, simply sift through the descriptions of the many film, television, and dramatic adaptations of his stories.

Walker Percy, heir to the Southern literary throne that Faulkner abdicated at his death, also warrants a site chock-full of biographical facts. Here you have the opportunity to participate in chats and forums to discuss critical issues in Percy’s fiction. While many Southern authors have their own sites, it’s just as common for sites to group them by region; for instance, they may cover only authors from Mississippi or Louisiana.

For background on Southern culture, literary and otherwise, check out sites run by the Center of Southern Culture and the Center of the Study of the American South. If all this investigation has whet your appetite for the real thing, you can download many Southern novels, stories, and poems at Project Gutenberg, a massive e-text project, and at the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia’s text centers. You’re bound to come away with newfound appreciation for this uniquely American tradition.