Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Sense of Place

Photographer Susana Raab’s series A Sense of Place brings us into the homes of Southern literary greats - Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner. Below are my favorites along with excerpts about each photograph. I felt the descriptions were just as important and compelling as the images.

"These photographs were taken on a March afternoon in the library, living room and kitchen of Southern Writer Eudora Welty's home, which she lived in until her death."

"Flannery, a devout Catholic, raised peacocks on her Georgia farm. Peacocks are symbolic of the resurrection, a fact that surely did not escape the allegorically minded O'Connor."

"This is the desk where William Faulkner typed out his Nobel prize winning novels, complete with a tin of his pipe tobacco, My Mixture, at his side, and his golf clubs stowed in the corner."

"This is the phone that William Faulkner was summoned to while working in the fields, to learn the news that he had won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The writing above the phone is Faulkner's informal address book, preserved in his own handwriting."


The poetic photographs provide a peek into these author's intimate spaces, almost like seeing a piece of their history. In each photograph I can imagine them cooking, writing and contemplating ideas. I also think of my good friend Allison, a Southern Literature major with passion and talent. I dedicate this post to you, Allison - to keep you inspired and motivated during long, writing endevours.

Purchase these and more wonderful prints at Susana's Etsy shop and view other stunning photographs at her website. Definitely worth a look!

45 comments:

peachey said...

i'm head over heels with faulkner's phone nook.

please sir said...

SAME HERE - isn't that such a wonderful idea?!

amy turn sharp said...

gorgeous- swooning!

nelya said...

Oh, I can't tell you how I love these images and even more so, the stories behind them. The peacock feathers leave me speechless. What an amazing grouping of true Southern greats. This peek inside their intimate spaces is an incredible treat. Thanks for sharing this excellent post!

Megan @ Pink O'Clock said...

LOVE these so much.

Jane Flanagan said...

Love this! Have you seen the writer's rooms section in the Guardian? You would also love!

http://seenandsaid.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-writers-rooms.html

Ms. Katee/e-polishblog said...

I love the peacock feathers. I used to be obsessed w/them as a child! I had a huge bouquet of them in a tall vase like that in my room.

leah - moxiethrift on etsy said...

i love the kitchen one. the feeling it provokes is what i want in my kitchen. love it!

Deb Oh said...

These are AMAZING! Especially the Faulkner photos :)

Rachel said...

Why am I not surprised that I love Eudora Welty's light filled kitchen? Sigh. I love Southern authors.

Tina { Luphia Loves... } said...

what a great concept and beautiful photos too, i'm still lusting all the vintage typewriters and telephones, which i feel will never change!

Unknown said...

i *love* that library shot - that sofa is to die for!

Anonymous said...

What great photos, thanks so much for sharing that!!

Joyce said...

D- you did it again!! When I looked at the first pic my thoughts were "oh this is my favorite" I can almost smell a pie in the oven, then I scorll down to peacock feathers. I love peacock feathers!!
Coming here is like turning a page of my favorite book!
Enjoy!

Cindy said...

i love the kitchen and the desk. going to visit her. thanks!

Anonymous said...

i feel like Joyce...with every photo i thought...oooo that is my favorite...and then another one...oooo that is my favorite...the library!!! the kitchen and that window!!! i love love love the typewriter and i'm just about to get up and start writing on my walls when i see that telephone nook...

i love visiting places like these...i still remember a family visit to a Thomas Edison home in Florida...as a little girl i was wide eyed and amazed when the guide told us there were light bulbs burning there since the time he was living there... it was like being transported by a time machine...

Jan said...

I could easily cook in that kitchen.

summer said...

i'm loving that kitchen/writing desk scene!
so perfect!

aimee said...

i love the photo of the phone and the scribbles on the wall.

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

The Faulkner "phone booth" is awesome.

Great photo series!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. That put me in a much better mood, thanks for sharing.

Josephine said...

these spaces are so incredible! so many writers i admire are from the south and to see their spaces captured in this way is truly a delight. one of my favorite posts!

paula said...

how I love that library. very fitting for a writer.

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

I luv anything w books...the more the merrier!

Anonymous said...

These are great. I love that wall full of books. The perfect place to lounge and sip on a cup of coffee:)

Anonymous said...

these are so great! i just love that kitchen ... you know lots of good stuff + lots of great family moments took place there.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful images.. great stories behind them too!

Hey Harriet said...

Wonderful photos! The Faulkner ones are my faves!

limonana said...

how inspiring! although i'm not a writer, i long for a book shelf filled with as many books as those!

Mary-Laure said...

My heart is throbbing hard... Faulkner is one of my very favorite writers and it's my dream to visit his place. Thanks for bringing me closer to the master.

yasmine said...

those are beautiful photos diana. lots of personality!

whew...just catching up on my favourite blogs.

Anonymous said...

I love the peacock feathers!!

Stella said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stella said...

Gorgeous :)
Have a nice weekend!

hello gorgeous said...

Beautiful post!! I love a peek inside.

The typewriter photo is great - can't you just sense him looking out that window conjuring things up?

I also *love* a bookcase jammed full. And messy, like it's being used.

Kasey said...

beautiful photographs, and i would love to have a library like that.
*sigh*

jae said...

Great post. The images bring you right in as if you were standing there and then the descriptions put the cherry on top!

Sharon said...

Thx for sharing, these are just splendid. The library in the 1st pic is to die for.

erin@designcrisis said...

Gorgeous lighting and beautiful images!

Anonymous said...

Wow---it's amazing to me how these photos capture the very thing that these authors were known for...a sense of mystery and drama combined with a reverence for the everyday. Gorgeous!

Gretchen said...

Eudora Welty is one of my favorite writers. I can feel her in those photos-- the two rooms where she undoubtedly spent a lot of time...

Unknown said...

I'm heading over there right now. thank you for sharing. I love the light in all of those photos. I learn SO much from seeing the work of other photographers. thanks, again:)

Anonymous said...

Mmm Faulkner has to be one of my favorite authors and I LOVE, love, love his address book idea. If only I had a wall to spare.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I enjoy your blog so much - your sense of what is visually valuable has such a range.
These photos are stunning, and stir something in this southern girl far from home in the snowy north.
And the photo of Faulkner's typing desk caught my eye because we have that lamp! Exactly the same! I am not sure if it is in our antique shop or packed in the barn - but now I have to find it.
Thanks for sharing these photos, Hilary

Unknown said...

these are fantastic. love the story behind the william faulkner phone.

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Even if I don't get a chance to respond please know that I read and appreciate your thoughts. Every comment counts!

Related Posts with Thumbnails