MEDIA ADVISORY

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR WILLIAM FAULKNER'S 100TH

        The University of Virginia Library invites fans of William
Faulkner to a birthday party, complete with cake, to commemorate the
centennial of the Nobel Prize-winning author's birth. The gathering
will take place on the steps of Alderman Library on Thursday, Sept.
25, at 4 p.m.
        Karin Wittenborg, head librarian will say a few words about
Faulkner's contribution to the University and the Library's
significant collection of Faulkner materials. Faulkner's great
grandchildren will be on hand to cut the cake, which will be large
enough to serve several hundred
people. Made by the Albemarle Baking Company, the cake will be white
sponge layered with raspberry jam and covered with a butter cream
frosting. (In his letters, Faulkner confessed a weakness for
preserves.)
        Faulkner (1897-1962), a Nobel Prize-winning author, came to
U.Va. in 1957 as its first Writer-in-Residence. He later served as
Consultant on American Literature to the Alderman Library and in 1961
he was elected Balch Lecturer in American Literature, a position he
held until his death
in 1962.
        For more information, call Charlotte Crystal at (804) 924-6858
or Jeanne Hammer at (804) 924-3246. Television reporters should call
our TV News Office at (804) 924-7550. Information also will be
available on the University's news website at
http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/.
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September 22, 1997