Fossil-Fuel Faulkner: Energy, Modernity, and the US South

Fossil-Fuel Faulkner is the first book-length study of a single writer in the energy humanities, exploring the connections linking the extraction, production, and use of energy resources in the US South to its histories of slavery and Jim Crow, ecologies of disruption and despoilation, cultural practices, and literary form.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Fossil-Fuel Faulkner is a groundbreaking book-length study that delves into the life and works of renowned author William Faulkner, exploring the intricate connections between energy extraction, production, and usage in his native US South and its profound historical, ecological, cultural, and literary aspects. In the face of a pressing need to envision a more just and sustainable energy future, as we strive to transcend a deeply problematic fossil energy regime that depletes our planet's resources and exacerbates the divide between the Global North and Global South, there is invaluable wisdom to be gained from examining how previous generations envisioned the modern transition into a hydrocarbon-fueled world. This transition occurred from the solar- and muscle-powered order that preceded it, and it brought about significant cultural transformations and social challenges.

Jay Watson, in his insightful analysis, turns to the life and writings of William Faulkner, the master of creating one of the richest imaginative landscapes in American literary history. Through a comprehensive survey of Faulkner's novels and short stories, Fossil-Fuel Faulkner uncovers the author's profound insights into the deep-reaching connections linking energy extraction, production, and usage to the histories of slavery and Jim Crow, the ecologies of disruption and despoilation, the logic of cultural practices, and the nuances of literary form.

Watson explores Faulkner's personal and imaginative engagements with various energy resources, including coal, oil, modern automobility, and the road narrative. He delves into the author's profound observations of the profligate energies of the sun and the human animal, shedding light on Faulkner's unique perspective on petromodernity, a term that encapsulates the complex interplay between energy, modernity, and human existence.

Fossil-Fuel Faulkner is not merely a scholarly exploration; it is a literary journey that invites readers to immerse themselves in Faulkner's rich tapestry of words. Through meticulous analysis and compelling storytelling, Watson offers fresh perspectives on Faulkner's works, revealing him as one of the keenest chroniclers and critics of petromodernity. This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the intricate connections between energy, history, culture, and literature.

In conclusion, Fossil-Fuel Faulkner is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the profound connections between energy, history, culture, and literature. Through the lens of William Faulkner's life and writings, Jay Watson provides a valuable contribution to the emerging field of the energy humanities. This book offers insights that can help us navigate the challenges and opportunities of our energy future, as we strive for a more just and sustainable world.

Weight: 574g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192855619