William Faulkner was raised on legends. He absorbed the skills of storytelling as he sat on the steps of the courthouse in Oxford, listening to the locals tell their tales. His own family history and the stories of Civil War generals and scoundrels all combined in his memory. As a writer, he created a body of literature that would tell more than just stories. Today, Faulkner is considered one of the most important Southern writers and one of the greatest American authors of all time.