Professor compiles reader's guide

By By Benjamin Smith

Monday, November 13, 2006

The contemplative portrait of William Faulkner shook slightly as James Carothers, professor of English, signed his name on the title page Friday afternoon in the North Gallery of Spencer Research Library.

Further down from Carothers, Theresa Towner, associate professor of literature at the University of Texas at Dallas and a former student of Carothers’, also signed copies of the book “Reading Faulkner: Collected Stories.”

The signing and brief reception was a celebration of the publication of the 501-page reader’s guide and the end of a five-year project that Carothers and Towner worked on together.

It’s intended to be completely accessible, written with general readers in mind.

-Theresa Towner, associate professor of literature at the University of Texas at Dallas

The purpose of the book, Towner and Carothers said, was to aid readers of Faulkner’s short stories, giving background and commentary on each tale and providing explanations of certain terminology.

“It’s intended to be completely accessible, written with general readers in mind,” Towner said.

The two co-authors divided 42 of Faulkner’s stories and systematically researched and analyzed the stories editing each other’s work as they went.

The collection includes “Barn Burning,” “A Rose for Emily” and “Shingles of the Lord,” stories that were said at the reception to be well-read in high school and college courses.

Towner, a KU graduate, said it felt wonderful to work with Carothers again.

“It’s the kind of project that was so big we each of us couldn’t do it alone,” she said. “It was a massive project. A lot of fun to do and I feel I learned a lot.”

Towner said it was challenging to compile all the data for the book. She pointed out that the works cited section of the book had more than 20 pages listing the various sources she and Carothers used “chasing down allusions to things that have come and gone, such as World War I slang and songs.”

Carothers said he agreed that the project had been long and trying.

“I’ve been saying it was like trying to pave a six-lane, transcontinental highway with one-inch ceramic tiles,” Carothers said.

At times, Carothers said, the only thing that kept him going was the thought of the reception.

However, Carothers said he remained a great admirer of Faulkner. He has been attending the annual Faulkner conference in Oxford, Miss., since 1979.

“It’s sort of like going to Faulkner camp,” Carothers said. “You see people you’ve met in previous years and new people. And there’s food.”

Carothers said he recalled spending time with his colleagues reading paragraphs out of Faulkner’s works and discussing them.

The book was published in May 2006 by the University Press of Mississippi and is available at Oread books in the Kansas Union.

Kansan staff writer Ben Smith can be contacted at bsmith@kansan.com.

— Edited by Kristen Jarboe

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