Faulkner House Books — Local services in New Orleans

If you ever wanted to time-travel without inventing a flux capacitor or breaking any space-time laws, just step into Faulkner House Books. Tucked away in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter, this place is less of a store and more of a sacred literary temple—formerly the home of William Faulkner himself. Yes, that Faulkner. Pulitzer Prize winner. Southern Gothic legend. Known to stroll Bourbon Street with a pistol on his hip and whiskey in hand—basically, the original Hemingway with a southern drawl.

From the moment you walk through the door, you’re not just browsing books—you’re walking among ghosts, history, and the kind of atmosphere that practically narrates your thoughts in dramatic prose. The books here aren't just items; they’re artifacts of curiosity, wonder, mystery, and knowledge, meticulously selected and curated for the serious reader and the weekend wanderer alike.

Positioned right by Jackson Square, the shop stands as a literary monument to the cultural aftershocks of the Louisiana Purchase, a reminder that this region is where stories ferment like good bourbon—and age even better. Whether you're in search of a rare edition, a mind-bending novel, or simply a quiet moment in the birthplace of American literary grit, Faulkner House Books delivers.

So if you’re craving adventure? Don’t climb a mountain. Walk into a bookshop. And if you want to stand where giants once stood—Faulkner House Books is your...

I was visiting New Orleans and had this and a few other bookstores on my "to see" list, and I'm SO glad I made it to this one! It's extremely small and a bit cramped, so there is a 6 person limit in the store (and that could even be a tight fit depending on the crowd) but it would definitely be worth a potential wait to get inside. This shop offers some new titles, a solid collection of New Orleans/Louisiana-based non-fiction, and an impressive selection of gorgeous editions of classic stories. I picked up a gorgeous copy of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, with silver page edges and matching florals embossed, and a "famous bookstores to see" book - featuring Faulkner House. My partner picked up a "things to see in New Orleans" style book, and we were both super happy with our purchases.

The woman in the shop (I presume she was the owner, I'm not sure) was pleasant but not at all pushy or overly friendly (I don't want to chitchat when I'm book shopping, LOL!). They also have a cute little branded tote for sale, for anyone else who may collect those like myself. Definitely give this shop a visit, whether you're a local...

Not worth going to if you're a racial minority or do not fit the white, thin and able-bodied persona. A place's bookseller does not have to be explicitly racist to tell you you aren't welcome in their store. I saw the old white woman go out of her way to help my white friend and another white lady that walked into the store but did not say a word to me or an overweight white woman who walked in. This detail to service had that much of an effect that I decided not to buy a book that I had actually wanted to read and decided that I'd find the book elsewhere to not give to a low key subtly racist seller. It's quite odd given that Southern Gothic literature often provides a scathing critique on old Southern racism and yet this store is run by a seller whonis racist, which makes this establishment even more ironic. POC - this place is definitely not for you. Spend your money elsewhere with people that will actually...