Most Faulknerian II

His Typewriter

Remington model typewriter used by William Faulkner while working and writing at the University of Virginia.

M.H.

"The Marionettes" manuscript, 1920.

His First Play

In 1920 William Faulkner while a student at the University of Mississippi wrote this one-act play for a drama club called "The Marionettes" of which he was a member. The play was never staged, but Faulkner hand-lettered, illustrated, and bound six copies.

The illustrations are in the Art Nouveau style reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley. The University of Virginia’s copy is one that was given by Faulkner to his friend, Ben Wasson, whose ownership signature is on the first blank leaf.

M.H.

His Manuscript of As I Lay Dying

Faulkner began writing As I Lay Dying while working as a night watchman in the power plant of the University of Mississippi. On 25 October 1929 he wrote the title at the head of this sheet of paper before having written any text. He completed the work in six weeks. Faulkner later noted about As I Lay Dying:

"I set out deliberately to write a tour-de-force. Before I ever put pen to paper and set down the first words I knew what the last word would be...Before I began I said, I am going to write a book by which, at a pinch, I can stand or fall if I never touch ink again."

M.H.