Flannery O'Connor Reads 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' (1959)

Vanderbilt University, April 1959

[readreligiously]

This is a treasure. Not only do we get to hear O'Connor in the flesh, but we also hear her oral delivery of her own work. Take note of her comic timing and the frequent laughter from the listeners. Some of these jokes might be lost on a modern reader, particularly if they aren't from the South, and particularly for this story. In fact, certain details we would find to be vulgar or just pointless exposition were meant to be funny to the original audience (such as the fact that Mr. Teagarden bought Coca-Cola stock when it first came out). This is a rare treasure. Imagine getting the chance to overhear Shakespeare read Hamlet or St. Paul one of his own letters. Imagine how that would assist our understanding of the text.

[peggynelson]

It is amazing to hear her voice and southern accent reading this story.  It lends a whole different tone to the story.

[billymusicwb]

This recording is a national treasure.  Flannery O'Conner was a great reader of her own work.  The laughter here is explosive.  Amazing stuff.

[JSTNtheWZRD]

I am now handicapped and in isolation with an autoimmune disease like S. F. O'Connor, though they have the medication to halt the progression of the disease, not cure it, so I am lucky - I was once a great artist now trying desperately to write because it's all I could do creatively - She is my hero - and Renoir. Without these examples of heroes I would have withered away I think and died - it's as if they conquered all that - transcended their ball and chain and create under great opposition to quality of life - She did write like a world traveler though in the cell of her small home - he did paint like a young man with a body like stone. I am a young man, mid-thirties, and this disease one day totally incompacitated me - I was once very in the world of outdoor extreme sports and adventure, I never spent a whole day at home ever and was mad with living fast - then ten years ago I became as renoir, knowing the solitude of S. Flannery O'Connor, I was in a depression for years about it, that is until I heard of them and their strength as if to laugh at their decided to look at these two people as extraordinary, and to myself as here I am walking with the great warriors.

[danielyoung]

The author was suffering from lupus, which schooled her in the precariousness of life, and was a devout Roman Catholic which made her aware of its preciousness. Thus the flat voice, the odd mix of darkness and radiance and the humor that comes as a weapon against our imperfect understanding and can lead us to that moment of grace.

[hedleyclive]

Totally riveting 37 minutes. Flannery is my favourite American writer & it was an appalling loss to all literature when tshe died so young. I am English but lived in the U.S. for a number of years. I had met a lovely lady in a bar in West Va. Four days later I proposed & were married in the same bar a few months after this. My wife, Mary, was a true GRITS & could display a bit of the Georgia twang when riled. One of her most used words was, discombobulated & I think of the great Flannery every time I hear it.

[daviddunton]

I read this for a class when I was in high school back in the 60's and I swore I'd never read it again, because it horrified and scared me so much. But I figured I could stand listening to it again if it was the author reading it, and I was glad I did. The crowd reactions really made it precious. Now, belatedly, I want to read all of Flannery O'Connor. We need to pay more attention to our American writers.

[AlmostMonumental]

This is an absolutely brilliant piece of literature with global themes representing the whims and flaws of human character. I have always loved it, but never as much as when hearing Miss O'Connor read it. The pleasure is reminiscent of the wonderful recording of Eudora Welty’s reading of her own classic short story, "Why I Live At The P.O.” 

"We've had an accident!" I'm laughing and filled with joy. "We've had a little spill.” Yes, we have.

Celebrating life's few little pleasures. Thank you, Miss Flannery.

[HmmNeat_o]

It fills my heart with a gram of pride that I was born in the great state of Georgia. Listing to her voice was so soothing and cozy. It made me feel as if I was being told a story from my own grandmother.

[babymoondancer]

She sounded exactly like I imagined she would!  I love her accent.

[mvarner]

This was part of a literature class I took in college in 1981 or 82. The last line given by the Misfit has stuck with me for 40+ years.

[joseph-zoramcbride]

One of my favorite writers; I can't believe we have this audio!! I just showed my Love the film version of Wise Blood and was looking for an audiobook. Found this instead! Thanks so much for the upload. I love this short story. Funny, brutal, powerful, philosophical, grotesque. O'Connor at her best.

[kylewhitehead]

I love that old time Georgia accent. I used to think it only existed in movies like Tippy Hedrin's mother in Marnie. An accent northern actors did when playing Southerners. I was really glad to learn that it was a real accent. It's so musical and thick. You also get a different appreciation of the prose hearing it in this rhythm.

[dannieros]

This makes me want to cry because she sounds just like my grandma, who was also from Georgia

[LolitaStClair]

This Story is powerful and outstanding! I read this book in school and I enjoyed this story.

[j.d.thompson]

What a voice. I’ve been reading the Complete Stories for a few weeks. I am transfixed by these crazy tales.

[jimmccord]

My favorite author.Thanks so much for posting this gem!

[cheryllovestoread]

Thanks for the link to her reading. That story was meant to be read out loud by her! Her voice and accent sound just like my Granny, rest her soul.
🌟⭐️⭐️⭐️

[trumpsupporter]

Thanks. Maybe the best short story writer who ever put pen to page.

[snow-wlkrxplorer]

One particular part I loved is the phrase about the pine tree needles with the sunshining through them; 'and the meanest of them sparkled'. While reading the story made me think of the large pine trees in the summertime with glinting sunlight shining throughout them down in the south. I was captured by the thought in that moment; I was there. The story was fine til what happened to them. I thought "Who could write such a terrible ending story." I always loved books; I think I will write one of my own soon. Literature is a wonderful experience.