Destinations For Southern Lit Lovers

Spanish moss, plantation mansions and a culture all its own — the South has all the right ingredients for literary inspiration. If your favorite books take place below the Mason-Dixon line, you’ll want to visit these top spots.

Head to Oxford, Miss., if you’re a fan of either William Faulkner or the more recent John Grisham. You can visit Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, where he wrote most of his well-known works, including As I Lay Dying. The author’s final resting place is found at St. Peter’s Cemetery, and it’s tradition for aspiring writers to leave a pint of whiskey near his grave.

Childhood friends Harper Lee and Truman Capote both trace their histories back to Monroeville, Ala. The courthouse where Lee’s father worked as a lawyer, much like Atticus Finch, has been converted into a museum, where both Lee’s and Capote’s works are recognized.

Of course, you can’t miss New Orleans. Walk the same streets once home to legends such as Kate Chopin and Tennessee Williams, as well as both Capote and Faulkner at one time or another. The city holds the annual Tennessee Williams Festival every March. If you’re looking for something a bit more recent, you can always enjoy a self-guided tour inspired by the works of Anne Rice. From St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to the Gallier House to various restaurants around town, you’ll find real-life settings transplanted straight into Rice’s books.