Flannery O’Connor died at Baldwin
County Hospital on this day 51 years ago. The staff who work at Andalusia Farm
honor her. We feel a particular affection for Flannery the person and unbounded admiration
for Flannery the writer.
We are privileged to work at the place that inspired one
of the best writers of the 20th century and the place to which
visitors come to soak in that same atmosphere. They come to pay homage to both
the person and the writer for, as anyone who has read her letters and essays knows,
they were two sides of the same coin. Both writer and person were inextricably
bound up together into an endlessly fascinating, perplexing, and hilariously
funny persona that still lives in people’s hearts and minds.
We are privy here
to tears shed over Flannery as they imagine her suffering, smiles of joy as
they touch the sink where Flannery washed the meal’s dishes (“Don’t stack the
plates cause then I have to wash both sides.”), and laughter as folks recite
their favorite lines. That the person is so tied up with the writer is not
unique to this historic house museum, home of a literary figure but many people feel a closeness to the
writer that I think would make her uncomfortable but also pleased that her
work has touched so many people in profound ways.
She said that “Lives spent between
the house and the chicken yard do not make exciting copy." Still,
readers want to soak up as much of Flannery “the person” as they can, and
coming to Andalusia Farm is one way to do that. Once here, we try to steer them
towards the elements of the farm that connect to her writing: the barn loft,
the tractor/murder weapon, the peafowl, the tree line, and the special light
here at sunset that does look like fire or blood (with one eye squinted).
Still, Flannery the person is here and
people want to know where she wrote, where she ate, who visited, and what the
farm operation was like. We do our best while always trying to bring
everything back to Flannery the writer who had something to say. Rest in peace
Flannery, we are glad to know you.
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The Staff at Andalusia Farm – Home of Flannery O’Connor
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