Ernest Hebert is an author and Dartmouth professor who was born in Keene and writes fiction about this area. During an interview with the Keene Sentinel he unloaded a gorgeous rant about William Faulkner. It’ll soon vanish behind the Sentinel’s paywall. So as a public service, and to ensure I can refer to it later, I’m placing it here for safekeeping.
Q: How do you feel about being compared to William Faulkner?
A: I hate being compared to Faulkner — this kind of uppity, snooty southerner with his turgid prose based more or less on the Bible. I can’t bear to read Faulkner. It makes me want to puke. I just loathe Faulkner. And you can quote me on all of that.
Done!
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June 5, 2011 at 11:29 am
Heresy, pure and simple heresy. Faulkner is a master—and I can tolerate uppity and snooty when the writing is that good. All that said, now I want to read Herbert and see what this maniac is all about. And of the five novels from the New Hampshire series you recommend?
June 5, 2011 at 11:38 am
I can’t remember which of the Darby series I’ve read. What I read most recently is Spoonwood, which isn’t part of the series but is about New Hampshire — I guess all his stuff is.
June 6, 2011 at 6:44 am
_The Dogs of March_ was the first novel, and worth reading. Faulkner AND Hebert is probably the formula.
October 14, 2011 at 11:36 am
Ernest Hebert is a hoot! Tongue in cheek my friends, tongue in cheek!
Read the Darby series….has it all. especially The Passion of Estelle Jordan.