Image by Carl Van VechtÂen, via WikiÂmeÂdia ComÂmons
In 1957 and 1958, the great AmerÂiÂcan writer William FaulknÂer spent two years as Writer-in-ResÂiÂdence at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of VirÂginia. DurÂing this stint, he preÂsentÂed sevÂerÂal pubÂlic speechÂes, gave many readÂings from his litÂerÂary works, spoke at countÂless pubÂlic events, and answered quesÂtions from hunÂdreds of stuÂdents. The talks were origÂiÂnalÂly recordÂed on reel-to-reel tapes, and now UVA has digÂiÂtized the audio colÂlecÂtion and made it availÂable through a new web site: FaulknÂer at VirÂginia: An Audio Archive. In total, the archive presents 1690 minÂutes (over 28 hours) of FaulknÂer recordÂings. It also includes an archive of phoÂtos and newsÂpaÂper items, as well as an audio recordÂing of a press conÂferÂence the EngÂlish departÂment gave when FaulknÂer died on July 6, 1962. A real treaÂsure. You can dive into the audio trove right here.
Note: To access the audio, you will need a QuickÂTime playÂer. If your browsÂer doesÂn’t already supÂport QuickÂTime, you can downÂload a free QuickÂTime plug-in here.
AweÂsome.
LisÂtenÂing to the tape recordÂings is almost like being there in perÂson. It’s simÂply amazÂing!