The legend goes like this: Faulkner outlined his book A Fable on the walls of his office. Apparently, this didn’t fit with his wife’s idea of proper decor; she painted over it. Faulkner then re-outlined the story — climbing up on his desk or something because he was about Picasso’s height and those notes are way up by the ceiling — and shellacked the wall so his outline would be there for good.
Which all goes to show that William Faulkner thought outlines were important.
And he was probably impossible to live with.
Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, is now a museum. Which can be toured even if you’re not headed to Oxford, Mississippi. (via)
Given the volumes of alcohol both Estelle and Faulkner consumed, I couldn’t imagine it was a great marriage. Of course, writers tend to be a hard lot to live with.
Thanks for that photo, Sweetie. I thought for a minute that I recognized that bed, but I met him in ‘58 in New Orleans. . . .