Reading Groups

In Short: William Faulkner's "Mistral" with Carl Rollyson

$35

1 Session

In stock

Thursday, 7:00 pm EDT - 8:30 pm EDT July 16, 2026

Online via Zoom

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In 1925, William Faulkner made a pilgrimage to Europe, spending part of his time in Italian mountain towns and deciding to set “Mistral” in one of them. In his story, two Americans encounter mysterious events while Mussolini and the fascists are in power. Evidently, a murder has been committed, but no one wants to talk about it as the Americans try to piece together what happened.

The story is remarkable for the parallels that can be drawn between Faulkner’s native Mississippi in the 1920s and fascist Italy, and it has much to say about the grip of fascism on two seemingly different cultures. “Mistral” is also a prefiguration of Faulkner’s greatest novel, Absalom, Absalom!, in which Quentin Compson and Shreve McCannon attempt to solve the mystery of a murder. Our discussion will center on what goes unsaid in a fascist state and how much the characters are actually able to reveal.

Reading List:

“Mistral” by William Faulkner (A copy of the story will be emailed upon registration.)

What to expect from this reading group: The class will begin with an introduction of about 20-30 minutes, including questions to be pursued in discussion.

What to read in advance: Please read “Mistral” in its entirety. A copy of the story will be emailed upon registration.

Upcoming Programming: Continue your exploration of Faulkner by reading Light in August and Absalom, Absalom! in Linda Chavers’s four-session reading group, What the South Knew: Faulkner in the Trump Era, beginning July 11.

We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for our Reading Groups and Writing Workshops, covering 50% of tuition. Applicants selected for scholarships will be notified one week prior to the first meeting. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

Pricing inclusive of sales tax if applicable. Please note: All virtual classes are recorded. Please click here for information about our recording policy.

Led by

Carl Rollyson

Carl Rollyson

Carl Rollyson is the author of Uses of the Past in the Novels of William Faulkner, The Life of William Faulkner, William Faulkner Day by Day, and Faulkner On and Off the Page: Essays in Biographical Criticism.

About this series

Reading Groups

Whether you’re looking to catch up on great novels or you’re interested in exploring a new writer or literary period, our reading groups offer high-level literary discussion led by experts in the field.

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