How did the professional and personal correspondence between William Faulkner and Malcolm Cowley shape the public perception and critical canonization of Faulkner's work? Malcolm Cowley, a prominent literary critic and editor, compiles and annotates the letters exchanged with William Faulkner between 1944 and 1962. This collection provides a primary source framework for understanding the editorial process behind the 'Portable Faulkner' and the subsequent revival of interest in Faulkner's novels during the mid-twentieth century. The text serves as both a biographical record and a critical analysis of the author-editor relationship.

Scholars and literary historians frequently cite this volume as a foundational text for understanding the mid-century American literary canon. Experts note that the prose is accessible to students of literature while providing the rigorous documentation required for academic research.