William Faulkner Research Paper

Hailey Arnold

Professor Kelly Orsmby

English 2030

28 April 2015 The Life of Faulkner William Cuthbert Falkner, or better known as, William Cuthbert Faulkner, added a “u” to his last name in 1918 before joining the Royal Air Force. Faulkner worked as many things, but he was most noted as an author. He was a Nobel Prize winning novelist in 1949 and won two National Book Awards as well (Faulkner 1). Important details in Faulkner’s life involved his early years, family life, and his love of writing which won him awards. Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi in 1897 and passed away from a heart attack in 1962 (Faulkner 1). It was notable that Faulkner was extraordinarily smart and school did not keep his interest. He dropped out of

Faulkner perfected his writing skills and it was specified that “Faulkner became known for his faithful and accurate dictation of Southern speech” (Faulkner 1). It was even stated that his old friend and mentor sent him a telegram saying, “What’s the matter. Do you have a mistress,” to which Faulkner replied, "Yes, and she’s 3,000 words long,” (Shmoop Editorial Team). After multiple stories being published Faulkner and Estelle reconnected in Oxford after Estelle divorced her husband. Faulkner and Estelle married when Faulkner was 32 and Estelle brought two children from the previous marriage, and they had two together. The first child in the marriage was born two months premature and died only nine days after she was born most likely due to Estelle drinking during the pregnancy (Shmoop Editorial Team). Two years later, Faulkner’s second child was born healthy. In 1935, Faulkner had his first affair with an attractive young lady named Meta, but he refused to leave Estelle. Meta married another man two years later which drove Faulkner to drink so much that he burnt his hand on a steam pipe in his hotel room, “ When the doctor who treated his third-degree burns asked him why he drank so much, Faulkner replied, "Because I like to." His affair with Meta continued for over a decade” (Shmoop Editorial Team). In 1950, Faulkner had