Flannery O’Connor is often likened to Faulkner for her portrayal of the character and lifestyle of the South, Kafka for her fascination with the bizarre, and Beckett for her dark humor—comparisons that underscore the fact that her voice has a unique place in the canon of American literature. This program provides a biographical sketch of O’Connor that illuminates her efforts to come to terms with what she perceived as the fundamental absurdity of the human condition while never shying away from incendiary social issues. Readings from Wise Blood, “The Displaced Person,” “The River,” “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” and “Revelation” are included. (21 minutes)