It should come as no surprise that some of the most influential and beloved writers were born in the South. And these authors have not only captured the unique essence of Southern life but also contributed significantly to the broader literary landscape with stories that are profound, unique, eccentric and delightful.
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Explore some of the places that inspired the South’s literary giants, and as you travel from the dusty streets of small towns to bustling cities, take some time to think – really think – about these authors, their lives and works. And just as sure as most people are real nice once you finally see them, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why the South has such a rich literary tradition.
(Amber Sutton)
1. Harper Lee's Monroeville
Start your journey in Monroeville, Alabama, the hometown of Harper Lee. This quaint town inspired Maycomb in her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." The Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville, which played a pivotal role in the novel, offers a rich historical context and hosts an annual play based on the book. It is also central to many other sites from the book. You can also see where Truman Capote lived for a time.
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Fannie Flagg Plays This'n or That'nwww.youtube.com
2. Fannie Flagg's Birmingham
Next, head to Birmingham, Alabama, the setting for Fannie Flagg's charming novels. Flagg, best known for "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe," brings to life the warmth and complexity of Southern life, and Birmingham's rich history and vibrant culture are often reflected in her works. While you’re there, stop for lunch at the Irondale Cafe, which the Whistle Stop Cafe was based on, where they are still dishing out those delicious fried green tomatoes every day but Saturday.
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3. Carson McCullers' Columbus
Travel to Columbus, Georgia, where Carson McCullers penned many of her notable works including "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and "The Member of the Wedding." The Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, located in her childhood home on a quiet residential street in the Wildwood Circle/Hillcrest historic district, honors her literary achievements. The Smith-McCullers House Museum is open to the public by appointment only and requests 24-hours notice for tours.
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Savannah, Georgia (Shutterstock)
4. Flannery O'Connor's Milledgeville and Savannah
Continue your journey to Milledgeville, Georgia, where Flannery O'Connor wrote some of her acclaimed Southern Gothic stories such as "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Wise Blood." Her family farm, Andalusia, is now a museum that preserves her writing space and the environment that influenced her distinctive voice. Carry on to Savannah and tour the house O’Connor lived in as a child, located on Lafayette Square.
5. Alice Walker's Eatonton
Next, visit Eatonton, Georgia, the birthplace of Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" and the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. See the remnants of her birthplace and her family home, visit the Georgia Writers Museum to learn more about her life and contributions to literature, and take in the Ward’s Chapel AME Church, where Walker’s parents are buried, to explore the spiritual landscape that influenced her powerful storytelling.
6. Erskine Caldwell Moreland
Erskine Caldwell, known for works depicting poverty and social issues such as "Tobacco Road" and "God's Little Acre," was born in Moreland, Georgia. “The Little Manse,” the house in which he was born to a minister father and schoolteacher mother, is now a museum devoted to his works and located in the town square. The Moreland Cultural Arts Alliance is also developing a living history project called God’s Little Acre, which is a working farm that pays tribute to tenement farming in the rural South.
Welcome to Mississippi sign. shutterstock
7. William Faulkner's Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi, was home to William Faulkner, one of the South's most revered authors, and Faulkner's residence, Rowan Oak, is open to the public. The surrounding area, with its picturesque landscapes and historic charm, served as the backdrop for many of his novels and offers a glimpse into the world that shaped classics like "The Sound and the Fury" and "As I Lay Dying." From there, take the 20-minute walk down Bailey Woods Trail, a path that Faulkner often walked, to the University of Mississippi Museum where you can enjoy their collection of Southern Folk Art in the air-conditioning!
8. Eudora Welty's Jackson
From Oxford, head south to Jackson, Mississippi, and visit the home of Eudora Welty, one of the South's most celebrated short story writers. The Eudora Welty House & Garden is preserved as it was during her lifetime, offering an intimate look not only at her writing process but her equally impressive talent for gardening. Pay homage to this Pulitzer Prize winner at her grave in Greenwood Cemetery.
READ MORE: Thank you, Mississippi, for your literary history
9. Walker Percy's Covington
Walker Percy was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but had a very unsettled childhood and lived all over the Southeast and even spent time in New York. He settled in Covington, Louisiana with his wife, and this is where he crafted existential novels like "The Moviegoer" and "The Thanatos Syndrome." Look for several historical markers that highlight parts of his life as well as a statue of Percy in a park downtown. Percy is buried at St. Joseph’s Abbey just a little northeast of town.
New Orleans Shutterstock
10. Truman Capote's New Orleans
A visit to New Orleans offers a glimpse into the vibrant and eclectic world that shaped Capote's unique storytelling style on display in seminal works like "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "In Cold Blood." He would often hold court in the Hotel Monteleone at its famous Carousel Bar and even say that he was born in the hotel! That story, however, is only half true – his mother was living there when she went into labor, but he was born at Touro Infirmary.
11. Tennessee Williams' New Orleans
Tennessee Williams honed his playwriting skills during the 40 years he lived in the Crescent City, producing such plays as "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Glass Menagerie.” See where he roomed at 431 Royal Street and later at 722 Toulouse Street. And each March, the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival celebrates his legacy and attracts literary fans from around the world.
A Place in Arkansas Women's History: Stamps and Maya Angelouwww.youtube.com
12. Maya Angelou's Stamps
Stamps, Arkansas is the childhood home of Maya Angelou. Her memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" vividly recounts her experiences growing up there in the segregated South. There, she is depicted in a large mural that illustrates the town’s history, and visitors can see her childhood church, Brown’s Chapel C.M.E. Church. The city park and Lake June are also dedicated to her memory.
13. Zora Neale Hurston's Eatonville
The first all-Black town to be incorporated in the U.S., Eatonville, Florida, the hometown of Zora Neale Hurston, a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance and is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Each January, the town celebrates her legacy with the annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities, highlighting her contributions to literature and anthropology. And the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, also in Eatonton, showcases the works of artists of African descent.
14. Cormac McCarthy's Knoxville
The rugged landscapes of Appalachia inspired Cormac McCarthy's stark and powerful novels, including "The Road" and "All the Pretty Horses,” but Knoxville was his home for many years, and its landmarks are featured prominently in many of his novels. Under the Hill Avenue Viaduct, you can see the home of one of the characters in the semi-autobiographical “Suttree.” Across the river is Suttree Landing Park, named after the main character.
