Faulkner House Books

I made the pilgrimage to see Faulkner’s one-​time home, but did not expect to find such a jewel box of a bookshop. Thoughtfully curated small bookstore with excellent fiction and poetry sections. I loved this bookstore.

This tiny book store is situated on Pirates Alley along the south side of St. Louis Cathedral. It can be accessed easily from Jackson Square, or Royal St.
The bookshelves are beautifully designed and use the small space very efficiently. They seem to focus on literary authors and have a good bit of poetry but also carry some «local interest» too.
The space is tiny, so don’t bring your whole tribe. This is a great spot to sneak off to just to get away from the sounds of the hustle of the quarter and be surrounded by books.

I was so happy to get to this shop. It is not in an obvious location and it has subtle signage on its front door. I love that. It is located in a classic New Orleans house/​building and has a wonderful selection of books. As a visitor, I asked the all too familiar question about Faulkner and his books.
I like that the shop carries Faulkner, Chopin and Rice, but I also appreciate the other classics in the store. It carries works by classic great poets and other writers and also offers recently written books.
As I was in the store, a thunderstorm hit the area and rainwater filled the streets so much so that it seemed impossible to go outside. I was happy to be ‘stuck’ in this shop. I would happily go back in a thunderstorm or otherwise.

Was in NOLA for the first time last week and my first stop was the Faulkner House. I love meaningful souvenirs and I thought getting a 1^st edition in Faulkner’s home during my first trip to NOLA would be pretty darn special. Unfortunately for me, the guy working at the shop (the one trying to be a lawyer) didn’t think a young Asian girl could afford a first edition because he was too busy kissing the ass of a pretentious older couple that kept being like «OH I WANT IT SIGNED, this won’t do.» Then he rebuked me for touching the first editions, telling me «to be careful with them.» Uh yeah, I am trying to see if I want to buy one of the books so that does mean I have to touch and open the book. Had been eager to purchase, walked out with a bad taste in my mouth. If you’re visiting, try to give the appearance you’re going to purchase or you may not get the hospitality you deserve.

Such a unique and thoughtful little book store! They have beautiful copies of hard to find books and there is even a special antique section. Definitely saw some titles I wouldn’t find at any other bookstore. You won’t find discounts like at the chains but all in all, it was a magical experience.

The most adorable bookstore that used to be Faulkner’s home. How awesome is that?! It isn’t a huge store but what it lacks in size it makes up totally in charm. Picked up a number of local books on New Orleans when we stopped by and I’d definitely recommend it! I also loved how friendly the staff were with recommendations.

I could spend all day here. Yes, its not a giant department store o’ books. That its not is the whole point. Here is a small, intelligent shop full of books on all sorts of literary subject matter. Plenty of Faulkner of course, but really hard to come by works by other great authors (well known, and not) as well.
A book lover’s paradise in a cool, meaningful location.

Had a business trip to NO last week and was determined to stop at a bookstore, and being that Faulkner House Books has some awesome history to it, I made the walk to Pirates Alley before my conference.
This bookstore is small and charming. I don’t care how big or small a bookstore is. there are books everywhere, so naturally I loved it. For such a small space, there sure is a lot to choose from.
I bought Soldier’s Pay (of course), The Art of War (with a beautiful leather cover), and accidentally spent $ 85 on a hardcover edition of As I Lay Dying. I didn’t have the heart to back out on it, but I wish there was a price tag so I knew what I was committing to.
Tip: if you don’t see a price tag, ask before you buy
Planned on spending around 30 bucks, but 125 it was. My boyfriend says tourist trap, I say it ain’t no thang. *cue ‘making it rain’ hand gestures*

Un énorme coup de cœur pour cette librairie absolument parfaite.
Tout d’abord le lieu: William Faulkner a vécu ici et moi, ça me donne presque envie de pleurer en tant que grande fan de l’auteur sudiste. Et en plus, c’est beau!
Ensuite les livres vendus sont beaux, très variés, il y en a pour tous les budgets. Si comme moi vous cherchez de la critique littéraire pointue (sur Faulkner, personnellement), c’est l’endroit idéal.
Enfin, les conseils de la libraire: une dame absolument charmante qui s’y connaît et qui fait tout pour aider les clients.
Je garde un souvenir ému de cet endroit et j’y retournerais souvent si je n’habitais pas à des milliers de kilomètres!

I love that this home can still exist, that indie book stores can still surprise and that Joe and Rosemary are gracious hosts of hsitory and the word.
Tough to get their in the hours open if in NOLA on biz

I agree with Marc who emphasizes that this is a SPECIALTY shop. It’s very small, but I found it to be full of wonder. The main appeal is of course that this was once Faulkner’s home, which is something to marvel at. But I also loved the location of it. I had this place on my radar to stop in while in NOLA for JazzFest — and if I hadn’t come by here I wouldn’t have discovered the jewel that is Pirate’s Alley. The art galleries, the cafes and pubs that are tucked down this way are the stuff that New Orleans dreams are made of! Great location.
I really liked the book store, they had an impressive collection with a few hard-​to-​find books actually. Of course I picked up some Faulkner, but there are some great local finds as well. This place is charming and full of history. If you’re looking for a large bookstore, I think you know where to find that in ANY city. If you’re looking for a little New Orleans magic and some interesting literary fruit — hit up Faulkner House Books.
xo

When rating Faulkner House Books, it is impossible to not take into account that this is the former home of Faulkner. That is the majority of the appeal of the establishment. If you are coming here expecting a Barnes and Noble type bookstore with a huge catalogue of books to choose from — well go someplace else.
So the bookstore essentially takes up the front half of the ground floor of Faulkner’s former residence, located just off of Jackson Square. Must have been amazing to live here when he did.
Considering the limited space, there is a very small selection to choose from — but there is an excellent poetry section — a great Faulkner section (no surprise) and a lot of first edition books to choose from.
The people who work at the shop could not be nicer. They are extremely attentive and more than willing to help you with any questions you might have. They seem to be extremely aware of the books they have in the shop which is very good to see.
Do I recommend stopping by Faulkner House Books? Absolutely!!! But again, this is a speciality shop — not a normal book store. However, for the historical aspect alone, it is worth a visit.

It was such a disappointment to me after hearing so much great stuff about it from friends. I was expecting a large space with hundreds of books. Instead, it was one tiny room filled with books and a few shelves in a hallway leading out of the room. The books themselves were incredible but most of them were new and at full retail price which were out of my budget.
It may have made a difference that the place was packed with customers and you could barely move around in it. I was done and ready to go pretty quickly. I’d heard lots of good things about the lady that works there and she did ask if I needed help but the visit was so brief that I guess I didn’t get to really experience her.
I also had no idea about the Faulkner reference and it would’ve been nice to know before I went since I’m a huge Faulkner fan. However, I don’t think it would’ve changed my review much.
Bottom line, I love to browse old and rare books and love to lose myself in a book store. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to get lost in this one.

I hate writing such a meh review for what is obviously such a well-​loved establishment. But, you know, maybe some of these other people just really love Faulkner, and my affection isn’t as all-​consuming as theirs? I know he’s a legend and a wonderful writer, but I just didn’t see the charm of this place that basically everyone else sees. It’s a niche place for certain. Sure, it’s quaint, small, and charming (which I’ve already said), but really the selection left much to be desired, and if you’re coming in here expecting to see a wide variety of books, you’ve come to the wrong place. If, on the other hand, you’re obsessed with Faulkner and stand a chance of having an aneurysm just being near a place he once lived, you’re probably going to love it.
Don’t get me wrong, I like to consider myself a lover of books. I’ve also been to a variety of new and used bookstores, ranging from huge chains to independently owned, as well as used, rare, and brand-spankin’-new. Not just where I’m from, but whenever I make an extended stop in a place, I always try to hunt out a unique or interesting bookstore. I have seen better. This place is worth the trip just for the knowledge that Faulkner once lived here, but that’s kind of it. You can find probably 90% of the other books offered anywhere else, and there’s nothing very special about that. But it is an independent chain, and you should support your local community. Blah blah. I initially thought that maybe you could also explore the house a little, but no. You’re regulated to the single small room in the front, which is only a few yards larger than Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs.
I agree with a previous reviewer that this is much more the type of place to go if you want first editions, but not so much for the roamer and browser that I am. I like a large selection so I can pick up a book I’ve never heard of, and I’m not really fan of a place I can entirely explore in less than an hour. If for no other reason, go here for the ambiance and experience of a small shop amidst a busy, otherwise tourist-​trapped area. It was completely empty when I went, yet I was offered no help or guidance. Perhaps if I’d been greeted or acknowledged, it make have been as difference experience, but I felt like I was a bother just coming in to the store.

This teensy, tiny little spot located down Pirate’s Alley is the former home of William Faulkner and is a must visit for bibliophiles and fans of NOLA history alike.
The interior is packed to the gills. The assortment includes lots of classics, contemporaries and best-​sellers. They have a great selection of NOLA themed writings as well, which in my opinion is a much better souvenir than a bottle of Tabasco.
The woman working was very knowledgeable about the local history and was great to talk with.

Set in the heart of the French Quarter, just steps from Jackson Square, is the most charming bookstore I have ever visited. Don’t be fooled by it’s tiny size because the contents are sure to impress any book enthusiast. There is a great selection of first editions and a curated selection of books to make you squeal with delight (or maybe that’s the nerd in me?).
I came across a book of Persian poetry that literally took my breath away. It was a wonderful collection works that I just could not pass up. Though you may pay the retail price on an item, there is still something to be said about supporting a local business, especially one where the books for sale are chosen with so much love and care.
This is surely a stop for any literary enthusiast!

Eclectic Book Shop
Just-​Off Jackson’s Square
Where Faulkner scribed ‘Soldier’s Pay’
#NOLA_​Haiku

I found heaven in the French Quarter.
Every other bookstore in the world wishes they were Faulkner House. If you are a lover of books you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven in this cozy dream of a book store.
William Faulkner lived here and wrote his first novel here. That alone makes it a must see. But there’s also the very cool fact that the shop is filled with rare first edition books and tons of literature from southern authors. This isn’t Books A Million, folks. You’re not going to find any trashy novels here. This bookstore is classy, the way a bookstore should be. Yes, it’s a small space but there are books lining the shelves from the tip of your toes all the way to the ceiling. It’s perfect. Just perfect.
In closing, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite Faulkner quotes…
Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world… would do this, it would change the earth.”
― William Faulkner

Precious, petite provincial gem. Mind what you may knock over.
A bookstore could not HOPE to be more charming and picturesque as this is. At first, I had troubles locating Pirates alley (& non — –before you ask, Lafitte didnt do any pirating on this street).
Located adjacent to the rear of St Louis Cathedral, it is quaint, with the ubiquitous tall, narrow doors to pass through to an absolutely perfect little space for my favorite things in the world… books! The store is small!
I read about how W. Faulkner used to hang off the roof of this small little building… on the flight, was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Faulkner quote was lifted and shared on that particular episode.
Sure sign that I was to hunt this sheer piece of literary history and pleasure down. And that I did!

Supercool, supersmall bookstore right beside the cathedral. We stumbled on this and were like kids in a candy store– book nerds in a bookstore, I guess.
Tall shelved filled with interesting picks, a good local section, rare books, you name it. Very friendly staff, decent prices. Probably my favorite of the French Quarter bookstores, and that’s really saying something.

A tiny literary respite from the French Quarter, Faulkner House Books has an eclectic collection of local history, NYRB selections, poetry, and American literary stalwarts which can’t help but spice up your dialog while soaking up sazeracs in the Big Easy.
So spend a few bucks on some fifty cent words and read a chapter or two while sipping on a sazerac or three at the adjacent bar. Then wander down to Jackson Square and marvel at the fact that I got engaged there.