Five Famous Mississippi Authors

“In order to understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” This famous quote is commonly attributed to Mississippi writer, William Faulkner, though it has not been confirmed if he was the one who coined the term. Regardless of who said it, this quote stands true. The Magnolia State is full of rich history. Mississippi has many incredibly gifted writers who have used their literary knowledge and story telling expertise to bring this quote to life. In their writings, they detail the many nuances that are commonly felt and / or expressed by one who resides in the grand old Magnolia State. 

William Faulkner

Faulkner is one of the most renowned writers of all time. Born and raised in Mississippi, William Faulkner is one of America’s most respected writers. He was born in New Albany, MS on September 25, 1897 and passed away in Byhalia, MS on July 6, 1962. His writing delves into the complexities of living in the south and even about the lives of soldiers. Some of his most notable works include A Fable and As I Lay Dying. His first novel, Soldier’s Pay, was a romantic novel highlighting the struggles and isolations that soldiers returning from World War I endured when they returned to the civilian world. 

Tennessee Williams 

Author and playwright Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus, MS on March 26, 1911. He died in New York City, NY on February 25, 1983. Williams is one of the most popular and influential figures in the realm of both writing and entertainment. His play, The Rose Tattoo, won Williams a Tony Award in 1951. A Streetcar Named Desire was one of the most popular plays during that era, which won a Pulitzer. He continued collecting accolades throughout his life winning a second Pulitzer, just a few years later, in 1955 for his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Over a dozen of his writings have film adaptations. Before Williams became a renowned writer, he was a caretaker on a chicken ranch. He is quoted to describe the job as “disastrous.” 

Richard Ford

Known for his hit novel The Sportswriter (and its sequels) and Be Mine, Richard Ford is a dynamic storyteller. Ford’s books are filled with the vicissitudes either you, your family member, or your nextdoor neighbor have experienced. The Be Mine author was born in Jackson, MS on February 16, 1944. He is eighty years old today. Ford has a phenomenal collection of awards including (but not limited to) a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Pen / Faulkner Award for Fiction. From novels to short stories, you can depend on Ford to tell the most compelling story you’ve ever heard. 

Eudora Welty

A list of Mississippi novelists isn’t complete without Eudora Welty. Born April 19, 1909, in Jackson, MS, Welty is most known for her works titled The Optimist’s Daughter (which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973) and A Curtain of Green. Welty was a trailblazer in the discipline of writing, and her works were among the first to be published in the Library of America. She passed away on July 23, 2001 in her hometown of Jackson. Her legacy is a continuation of the beacon of light that she was. Her writing remains equally as impactful today as it did years ago. 

Elizabeth Spencer

Elizabeth Spencer lived a beautiful life. She was born in Carrollton, MS on July 19, 1921 and lived her final days in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she passed away on December 22, 2019– just a few days short of Christmas. One fun fact about Spencer is that she was one of Eudora Welty’s mentees. It is said that Welty encouraged Elizabeth to write. With the encouragement of Eudora Welty, Spencer published her first novel in 1948 called Fire in the Morning, which features an overarching theme of familial conflict. Not only did she have an extensive writing career, Elizabeth Spencer was an educator. She taught at Northwest Community College and the University of Mississippi. 

Mississippi Makes Marvelous Writers

There is no doubt that Mississippi has produced some of the most successful, talented writers. Through their familiarity with Mississippi, these authors developed a unique approach to using storytelling as a vehicle to explore the nuances of the south, Mississippi, and society as a whole. Each author has their own unique writing style and their own personal relationship with this state, which carried over into how each of them wrote their stories. Have you read any works by these amazing authors? If so, what have you read? What is your favorite book by a Mississippi author? Let us know on Our Mississippi Home’s Facebook page.