1997 Faulkner Centennial Celebrations

The centennial of William Faulkner's birth on September 25, 1987, in New Albany, Mississippi, is being celebrated throughout the world this year. A sampling of events follows.

Oxford, Mississippi - January 9, 1997 Square Books sponsored the first observance of the year with a program of readings on the occasion of the publication of William Faulkner and the Tangible Past: The Architecture of Yoknapatawpha by Thomas S. Hines. The author, a noted architectural historian, talked about Faulkner's buildings during a program that also included readings of relevant passages from the fiction of Yoknapatawpha.

Ashland, Virginia - March 3-6 Randolph-Macon College's "The Achievement of William Faulkner: A Centennial Conference" included John Maxwell's performance of "Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?"; a showing of the films The Reivers and Tomorrow; and a discussion by panelists Joseph Blotner, Thadious M. Davis, and Lothar Honnighausen. Thomas Inge, Blackwell Professor of Humanities, was in charge of the event.

Newark, Delaware - March 17-June 20 The University of Delaware will sponsor the exhibition William Faulkner: A Centenary Celebration. A web version is accessible.

Nottingham, England - July 12, 1997 The University of Nottingham will host a one-day conference on "Faulkner and Modernism" to commemorate the author's 100th birthday. Contact: Richard King, American and Canadian Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD United Kingdom; e-mail: AAZRHK@arnl.arts.nottingham.ac.uk.

Oxford, Mississippi - July 1-Sept. 30 Photographs of Faulkner and his home environment by Jack Cofield and Martin Dain will be exhibited at the University of Mississippi. The Cofield exhibition will be at Barnard Observatory, and the Dain exhibition will be at the University Museums. Contact: Center for the Study of Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677; telephone 601-232-5993.

Oxford, Mississippi - July 27-August 1 The 1997 Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference will celebrate the author's centennial by bringing together more than 20 Faulkner scholars to discuss his work. Among the scholars who will address the conference theme "Faulkner at 100: Retrospect and Prospect" are Andre Bleikasten, Thadious Davis, Joseph L. Fant, Doreen Fowler, Lothar Honnighausen, Arthur Kinney, John T. Matthews, Michael Millgate, David Minter, Albert Murray, Noel Polk, Carolyn Porter, Judith Sensibar, Warwick Wadlington, Philip Weinstein, and Judith Wittenberg. In addition to these and other literary scholars the conference will include discussions by Faulkner friends and family, sessions on "Teaching Faulkner," guided tours, dramatic presentations, films, and exhibitions. Contact: Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, Center for Public Service and Continuing Studies, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677; telephone 601-232-1047; fax 601- 232-5138; e-mail cdye@olemiss.edu.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Sept. 2-30 "A Faulkner Centennial Celebration" at Southeast Missouri State University will offer lectures, including "Faulkner and the Visual Arts" by Max Cordonnier, an exhibit of the Brodsky Collection, and an art contest and exhibit based on Faulkner's life and work. Contact (art contest): call 573-334-9233 or e-mail beverly@mvp.net. Contact (other events): Robert Hamblin, Center for Faulkner Studies, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-4799; telephone 573-651-2628. Faulkner Center Home Page: http://www2.semo.edu/cfs/cent.HTM

Oxford, Mississippi - September 25 The City of Oxford will dedicate a statue of William Faulkner by Mississippi sculptor William Beckwith during a program that will include comments by public officials and authors Shelby Foote and Willie Morris. The morning event (ten o'clock until noon) will be followed in the afternoon by a University-sponsored program of tributes to Faulkner and readings from his work. Contact (morning program): City of Oxford, Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655; telephone 601-236-1310. Internet page: http://www.ci.oxford.ms.us. Contact (afternoon program): Donald Kartiganer, Department of English, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677; telephone 601-232-7439; or Ann J. Abadie, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677; telephone 601-232-5993.

New Albany, Mississippi - Sept. 25-27 A community birthday celebration on Thursday evening, September 25, will be followed by Faulkner Education Day in the New Albany and Union County schools on Friday, September 26. That evening, John Maxwell will present "Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?" Events on Saturday, September 27, will include an address by Faulkner scholar Robert W. Hamblin, area historic tours, music, workshops for teachers and students, announcement of winners of a creative writing context, a mule auction, and mule races. The day will end with an evening performance of As I Lay Dying, performed by Nashville singers and songwriters. Contact: Faulkner Centennial Celebration, P.O. Box 657, New Albany, MS 38652; telephone 601-538-0014 or 601-534-1010.

Rennes and Paris, France - Sept. 22-25 Fondation William Faulkner at Rennes 2 University will sponsor a four-day program with literary seminars and workshops, readings, concerts, award presentations, and exhibitions. On Thursday, September 25, the program will move to Paris for an official ceremony, a visit to the Luxembourg Gardens, and the installation of a commemorative plaque. Scholars are invited to submit papers (up to 4,000 words) on the theme "Faulkner's Birth and Rebirth(s)" for possible presentation at the Centennial Symposium and publication in Homage to William Faulkner, the second volume of the Etudes Faulkneriennes series. Deadline for submission of papers is July 20, 1997. Contact: Fondation William Faulkner, Universite Rennes 2, 6 avenue Gaston Berger, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.

New Orleans, Louisiana - Sept. 28 Faulkner House Books and the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society will host a birthday party. Contact: Faulkner House Books, 624 Pirate's Alley, New Orleans, LA 701116; telephone 504- 524-2940.

Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia - September Scholars from institutions throughout the Republic of Georgia will gather at Tbilisi State University for a conference in celebration of the centennial of Faulkner's birth. Contact: Tsiala Topuridze, State Institute of Western Languages and Cultures, Tbilisi State University, 45 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia 380062; telephone 99532-99- 06-26.

Beijing, China - November Peking University will sponsor the International Conference on William Faulkner in Celebration of His Centennial, a four-day event scheduled for November (exact dates to be announced). Contact: Tao Jie, Department of English, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P.R. China.

Moscow, Russia - December 1-5 Scholars from Russia and the United States will gather at the Gorky Institute of World Literature in Moscow for a three-day program commemorating William Faulkner. Contact: Maya Korenova, Gorky Institute of World Literature, Povarskaya 25-a, Moscow G-69, Russia 121069; fax 070950-200-32-16.