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Most travelers are out to see the big sites: famous landmarks, wonders of the world, and other tourist hotspots. But, for some travelers, there exists an enticing pilgrimage that is quieter and more nuanced. Enter: literary tourism. As the name suggests, literary tourism involves a manner of travel centered around authors, books, and storytelling in general. It allows bibliophiles to see where authors lived and wrote, locations that inspired famous works, and even experience the fictional milieu found in favorite stories.
If you feel inspired to make your own bookish quest around the South, let this English major get you started with a literary adventure in Ripley, Mississippi through the eyes of William Faulkner and John Grisham. Literature lovers, this one’s for you.
The First Falkner
William Clark “The Old Colonel” Falkner was a prominent figure in Ripley’s history. Moving to the small-town in the mid nineteenth century at the age of 14, Falkner became the ultimate jack of all trades. He was known for his heroism during the Civil War, later holding a strong career as a lawyer, and even building the first railroad in Ripley, making him a very important dignitary in industry as a whole. Despite his strong knack for business dealings and hard labor, Falkner was also known for his creative side, authoring a few poems and even a well-received murder-mystery novel, The White Rose of Memphis, which became one of the best-selling novels of its time. Unfortunately, as the result of a long-standing grudge, Falkner was shot and killed by his former law partner Richard Jackson Thurmond in 1889.
The Father of Southern Gothic Literature
Famously saying “I want to be a writer like my great-grandaddy,” William Faulkner did just that and is a household name to this day. Highly decorated as an author, Faulkner won the Nobel Prize in Literature, two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction, and two National Book Awards. He spent many of his childhood years in Ripley where he drew inspiration for many of his themes, motifs, characters, and settings, however, most of his regard came from his The Old Colonel. Wanting to honor his legacy and admiration for the man, Faulkner modeled the character John Sartoris after the enigmatic life he lived as well as the creation of Yoknapatawpha County, the fictional universe where many of his stories take place.
The Master of Southern Courtroom Drama
Contemporary author John Grisham’s connection to Ripley was established during his childhood, as he attended Ripley Elementary School and Ripley Junior High School. During these formative years, Grisham drew inspiration for Clanton, Mississippi, the fictional county where he sets many of his celebrated legal thrillers such as A Time to Kill, The Last Juror, and The Reckoning. As he grew up understanding the dynamic of small-town legal structures and general cultures thanks to his time in Ripley, these themes became trademark features of his fiction. The real-life downtown square in Ripley also influenced his decision to craft Clanton’s historic courthouse square, a key setting amongst several of his class novels.
Stops on the Literary Trail Today
You have the history, now comes the actual spots you can stop and experience a slice of literary history.
Ripley Courthouse Square
It was in this historic square that Faulkner’s great-grandfather, Colonel William Clark Falkner was shot and killed by his former law partner in 1889. His legacy and death greatly inspired Faulkner, making this place of major significance for the author, and even inspired the fictional Jefferson Courthouse and Square, a central location in the Yoknapatawpha County universe.
Tippah County Courthouse
Located on the northeast corner of the Ripley Square, this courthouse offers a more tactile example of inspiration both Faulkner and Grisham drew for their novels. This courthouse galvanized the repeat setting of Ford County Courthouse in Grisham’s novels and, of course, is near the general shooting location of Colonel William Clark Falkner.
Ripley Cemetery
Commissioned before his death, you can find a twenty-foot marble statue honoring Colonel William Clark Falkner. The monument depicts Colonel Falkner standing with his right arm extended and his left hand secured in his pocket, behind him is a stack of books, a nod to his literary legacy.
Did You Know: The reason Falkner’s left hand remains hidden in his pocket is because during his time serving in the Civil War, his left hand was shot and severely injured along with his left foot, ultimately resulting in an honorable medical discharge.
Tippah County Historical Museum
If you’re interested in a more well rounded historical overview of Ripley and Tippah County as a whole, the museum is a must-stop spot. The museum offers a deeper look into the Falkner/Faulkner family and displays local historic artifacts.
Ripley Public Library
This library contains a bountiful collection of information and artifacts from the Falkner/Faulkner family. You can find first edition books, historic photographs on the family, and more information on how to take your own Faulkner/Falkner-centered Ripley tour.
Faulkner Heritage Festival
Typically taking place in early November, literary history buffs can come to Ripley and experience the Faulkner Heritage Festival, a local event that honors the city’s rich history and familial roots that produced two incredibly prolific American authors.
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| This article is presented in partnership with Visit Ripley Mississippi, a Modern South Founding Partner.
