Flannery O'Connor's Why Do the Heathen Rage?: A Behind-The-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress

A Literary Excavation of Flannery O'Connor's Unfinished Novel When celebrated American fiction writer Flannery O'Connor died at the age of thirty-nine in 1964, she left behind an unfinished third novel titled Why Do the Heathen Rage? Scholarly experts uncovered and studied the material, deeming it unpublishable. It stayed that way for more than fifty years. Until now. In this work of literary excavation, award-winning author Jessica Hooten Wilson transcribes, compiles, and organizes O'Connor's unfinished novel, imagining themes and directions her work might have taken. The book includes illustrations and an afterword from noted artist Steve Prince of One Fish Studio. "What a delight that there's a new Flannery O'Connor manuscript in the world, courtesy of Jessica Hooten Wilson, who has performed a true labor of love here, for which the literary world will be wildly grateful." -- George Saunders , New York Times bestselling author of Man Booker Prize winner Lincoln in the Bardo "This book is part detective story, part examination of O'Connor in the context of a changing America (especially racially), and part exploration of one of America's great writers in the process of creation." -- Esau McCaulley , Wheaton College; author of How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South " Flannery O'Connor's Why Do the Heathen Rage? is an important read for followers of this influential writer. Rather than complete O'Connor's unfinished novel, Why Do the Heathen Rage? , Hooten Wilson pairs passages from the book with insightful commentary about O'Connor the person and the artist. For fans interested in a complex portrait of O'Connor and the novel she never completed, this work is required reading." -- Nadra Nittle , author of bell hooks' Spiritual Vision and Toni Morrison's Spiritual Vision