New Orleans, Orleans Parish story
A Literary Landmark
At 624 Pirates Alley, a townhouse built in 1837 has transitioned from a private sanctuary to a public celebration of letters. In the 1920s, this was the home of William Faulkner,…
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At 624 Pirates Alley, a townhouse built in 1837 has transitioned from a private sanctuary to a public celebration of letters. In the 1920s, this was the home of William Faulkner, where he completed his first novel, Soldiers' Pay. For decades, it remained a private residence, but in 1988, Joseph DeSalvo Jr.
and Rosemary James founded Faulkner House Books. The shop officially opened on September 25, 1990—Faulkner's own birthday—occupying the very ground-floor room where the author once lived. Now a national literary landmark, the building has transformed from a quiet place of creation into a specialized bookstore, ensuring that the room where Faulkner's career began continues to inspire new readers today.
Updated June 2026