Flannery O’Connor: Imagination, Solitude, & the Oddities of Life
Watch it now!
Did you miss the live panel? It is now available to watch.
Collegium Institute hosted this evening panel conversation exploring Flannery O’Connor on the imagination, solitude, and the glorious oddities of life on June 3, 2020 via Zoom. This event is part of Collegium's new Ars Vivendi Arts Initiative and featured distinguished speakers Amy Alznauer, Jennifer Frey, Jessica Hooten Wilson, and Christine Flanagan, moderated by Jessica Sweeney the Ars Vivendi managing director.
This recorded version has a slightly unusual layout due to technical difficulties with the recording, but we hope you enjoy what turned out to be a fascinating, dynamic conversation about one of the greatest American female writers.
Below you’ll find additional resources and reading recommendations from our panelists:
Want to continue exploring the life and work of Flannery O’Connor?
Flannery O’Connor Short Stories Recommendations:
Amy Alznauer’s picks:
The River, Temple of the Holy Ghost, and Circle in the Fire
Jessica Hooten Wilson’s picks:
Greenleaf (her favorite!), The Displaced Person, and The River
Christine Flanagan’s picks:
View from the Woods, Greenleaf, and A Good Man Is Hard to Find
Jennifer Frey’s picks:
Revelation and Enduring Chill
Resources on Flannery O’Connor or to accompany her:
Check out all of Christine Flanagan’s recommendations here, with her descriptions and commentary.
Jennifer Frey recommends exploring some of Aquinas’ work; something that Flannery O’Connor did each evening before bed:
On Grace, Summa Theologica II-II Q109-114
On Prophecy, Summa Theologica II-II 171
You can also check out a lecture of Prof. Jen Frey’s here.
Check out all of Amy Alznauer’s recommendations here. You can also read a lovely reflection by Amy herself on her writing process and Flannery O’Connor.
And here are recommendations from Jessica Hooten Wilson to dive into some biographical and secondary material on O’Connor.
Also, don’t miss Jessica Sweeney’s beautiful review of Amy Alznauer’s picture book, The Strange Birds of Flannery O’Connor: A Life ; check it out over at Dappled Things.
