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Essential Welty: Why I Live at the P.O., A Memory, Powerhouse and Petrified Man
In 1956, Caedmon had the great fortune to record Eudora Welty reading some of her finest stories. In her sweetly vibrant Mississippi drawl, Ms. Welty deftly draws the listener in to the uproariously multilayered "Why I Live at the P.O.," the spontaneous "Powerhouse" and the insightful voice of women's truths in "Petrified Man." Ms. Welty's reading brings immediacy and resonance to these wonderful tales.
1 pages, Audio Cassette
First published January 22, 1956
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About the author
Eudora Welty
240 books1,017 followersEudora Alice Welty was an award-winning American author who wrote short stories and novels about the American South. Her book The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous awards. She was the first living author to have her works published by the Library of America.
Welty was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and lived a significant portion of her life in the city's Belhaven neighborhood, where her home has been preserved. She was educated at the Mississippi State College for Women (now called Mississippi University for Women), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Columbia Business School. While at Columbia University, where she was the captain of the women's polo team, Welty was a regular at Romany Marie's café in 1930.
During the 1930s, Welty worked as a photographer for the Works Progress Administration, a job that sent her all over the state of Mississippi photographing people from all economic and social classes. Collections of her photographs are One Time, One Place and Photographs.
Welty's true love was literature, not photography, and she soon devoted her energy to writing fiction. Her first short story, "Death of a Traveling Salesman," appeared in 1936. Her work attracted the attention of Katherine Anne Porter, who became a mentor to her and wrote the foreword to Welty's first collection of short stories, A Curtain of Green, in 1941. The book immediately established Welty as one of American literature's leading lights and featured the legendary and oft-anthologized stories "Why I Live at the P.O.," "Petrified Man," and "A Worn Path." Her novel, The Optimist's Daughter, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973.
In 1992, Welty was awarded the Rea Award for the Short Story for her lifetime contributions to the American short story, and was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, founded in 1987. In her later life, she lived near Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, where, despite her fame, she was still a common sight among the people of her hometown.
Eudora Welty died of pneumonia in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 92, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson.
Excerpted and adopted from Wikipedia.
Welty was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and lived a significant portion of her life in the city's Belhaven neighborhood, where her home has been preserved. She was educated at the Mississippi State College for Women (now called Mississippi University for Women), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Columbia Business School. While at Columbia University, where she was the captain of the women's polo team, Welty was a regular at Romany Marie's café in 1930.
During the 1930s, Welty worked as a photographer for the Works Progress Administration, a job that sent her all over the state of Mississippi photographing people from all economic and social classes. Collections of her photographs are One Time, One Place and Photographs.
Welty's true love was literature, not photography, and she soon devoted her energy to writing fiction. Her first short story, "Death of a Traveling Salesman," appeared in 1936. Her work attracted the attention of Katherine Anne Porter, who became a mentor to her and wrote the foreword to Welty's first collection of short stories, A Curtain of Green, in 1941. The book immediately established Welty as one of American literature's leading lights and featured the legendary and oft-anthologized stories "Why I Live at the P.O.," "Petrified Man," and "A Worn Path." Her novel, The Optimist's Daughter, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973.
In 1992, Welty was awarded the Rea Award for the Short Story for her lifetime contributions to the American short story, and was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, founded in 1987. In her later life, she lived near Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, where, despite her fame, she was still a common sight among the people of her hometown.
Eudora Welty died of pneumonia in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 92, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson.
Excerpted and adopted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 9, 2026
Petrified Man by Eudora Welty
9 out of 10
This is a narrative from The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty, a magnificent work that has won the 1983…
- National Book Award for Fiction
The main protagonists are Mrs. Fletcher and Leota, even if, although not present in person, Mrs. Pike is almost as important to the account.
We first read about Mrs. Fletcher and Leota in the first sentence of the story, where Leota is giving her client
- “a shampoo-and-set”
When she mentions Mrs. Pike, the name is unfamiliar to the customer and Leota has to explain that this is her new tenant.
Actually, she is also a friend of some sort, for the two women have become very close, the beautician telling almost all there is to say about herself.
As she works with the hair of Mrs. Fletcher, the hair is falling off and when she remarks upon it, the explanation first found is…”the perm’nent you gave me that did it”.
This was unfamiliar to me, but Leota goes on to talk about another customer that said that “you was p-r-e-g”
As a consequence, the hair “do awful funny”, the manner of speaking of the hairdresser being both funny and incorrect.
Mrs. Fletcher is very surprised and about this personal detail of hers being discussed in the open and wants to know who the lady was.
There is a child, Billy Boy in the hairdressing salon and he is the son of Mrs. Pike, who has a job where he cannot accompany her.
After pretending she does not recall who mentioned the pregnancy, Leota explains it was actually Mrs. Pike.
One day, as they were waiting in their cars for their husbands, who had gone fishing, Mrs. Fletcher was taking a prescription from the pharmacy and the hairdresser pointed her out to the new friend from New Orleans.
This is when Mrs. Pike said with certainty that she can tell not just about pregnancy, but that it is into the third month.
The woman can’t “sit still a minute” and she went with her landlady to the travelling “freak show yestiddy”.
They saw some gruesome things, including two Siamese twins that were kept in a glass recipient and horrified the expecting Mrs. Fletcher, when she heard the account from the beautician, who seemed to enjoy the exhibit.
What impressed her maybe more, was the Petrified Man from the title, who seemed to have problems digesting and becoming, well, petrified.
The two ladies went to find about their future from a fortune teller who mentioned events that can become self-fulfilling prophecies...
When they mention that one will move to a different city and one does that, it is because one has taken the skill of the often con artist for granted, making it similar to the story mentioned by Somerset Maugham:
- Appointment in Samarra- wherein a servant meets with Death at the market, asks permission from the master to travel to that city in order to avoid dying, but when the master meets Death and confronts her with questions about why did she take on his employee, she says that she was just surprised to meet the servant at the market, when she has an Appointment with him that very night, in Samarra…
“Ever’body in New Orleans believes ever’thing spooky” says Leota and since Mrs. Pike is from New Orleans she believed the fortune teller.
A week from the first discussion, Mrs. Fletcher is back at the hairdresser, but the attitude of the latter is very different.
First of all, she has had a customer that was on the verge of giving birth, but instead of concentrating on that, she came to the parlor…
In pain, with her husband waiting, the about to give birth customer insisted on having her permanent!
Anyway, the most serious trouble involves Mrs. Pike who, after making such a wonderful impression on the hair dresser, is now causing her landlady so much grief, granted, in large part on account of envious feelings.
One afternoon, as they were having a picnic, Mrs. Pike looks in the newspaper and recognizes the photograph of one of their former neighbors, who is accused of raping four women and whose catch would bring a $ 500 reward.
That means perhaps fifty or even one hundred thousand dollars in today’s currency and she is glad they will be rich.
Mr. Pike is not so happy to turn in a man that he considered to be nice, but his wife is determined and will get the money…I will not say who the character is.
You can read this tale here: http://www.scott.kyschools.us/userfil...
9 out of 10
This is a narrative from The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty, a magnificent work that has won the 1983…
- National Book Award for Fiction
The main protagonists are Mrs. Fletcher and Leota, even if, although not present in person, Mrs. Pike is almost as important to the account.
We first read about Mrs. Fletcher and Leota in the first sentence of the story, where Leota is giving her client
- “a shampoo-and-set”
When she mentions Mrs. Pike, the name is unfamiliar to the customer and Leota has to explain that this is her new tenant.
Actually, she is also a friend of some sort, for the two women have become very close, the beautician telling almost all there is to say about herself.
As she works with the hair of Mrs. Fletcher, the hair is falling off and when she remarks upon it, the explanation first found is…”the perm’nent you gave me that did it”.
This was unfamiliar to me, but Leota goes on to talk about another customer that said that “you was p-r-e-g”
As a consequence, the hair “do awful funny”, the manner of speaking of the hairdresser being both funny and incorrect.
Mrs. Fletcher is very surprised and about this personal detail of hers being discussed in the open and wants to know who the lady was.
There is a child, Billy Boy in the hairdressing salon and he is the son of Mrs. Pike, who has a job where he cannot accompany her.
After pretending she does not recall who mentioned the pregnancy, Leota explains it was actually Mrs. Pike.
One day, as they were waiting in their cars for their husbands, who had gone fishing, Mrs. Fletcher was taking a prescription from the pharmacy and the hairdresser pointed her out to the new friend from New Orleans.
This is when Mrs. Pike said with certainty that she can tell not just about pregnancy, but that it is into the third month.
The woman can’t “sit still a minute” and she went with her landlady to the travelling “freak show yestiddy”.
They saw some gruesome things, including two Siamese twins that were kept in a glass recipient and horrified the expecting Mrs. Fletcher, when she heard the account from the beautician, who seemed to enjoy the exhibit.
What impressed her maybe more, was the Petrified Man from the title, who seemed to have problems digesting and becoming, well, petrified.
The two ladies went to find about their future from a fortune teller who mentioned events that can become self-fulfilling prophecies...
When they mention that one will move to a different city and one does that, it is because one has taken the skill of the often con artist for granted, making it similar to the story mentioned by Somerset Maugham:
- Appointment in Samarra- wherein a servant meets with Death at the market, asks permission from the master to travel to that city in order to avoid dying, but when the master meets Death and confronts her with questions about why did she take on his employee, she says that she was just surprised to meet the servant at the market, when she has an Appointment with him that very night, in Samarra…
“Ever’body in New Orleans believes ever’thing spooky” says Leota and since Mrs. Pike is from New Orleans she believed the fortune teller.
A week from the first discussion, Mrs. Fletcher is back at the hairdresser, but the attitude of the latter is very different.
First of all, she has had a customer that was on the verge of giving birth, but instead of concentrating on that, she came to the parlor…
In pain, with her husband waiting, the about to give birth customer insisted on having her permanent!
Anyway, the most serious trouble involves Mrs. Pike who, after making such a wonderful impression on the hair dresser, is now causing her landlady so much grief, granted, in large part on account of envious feelings.
One afternoon, as they were having a picnic, Mrs. Pike looks in the newspaper and recognizes the photograph of one of their former neighbors, who is accused of raping four women and whose catch would bring a $ 500 reward.
That means perhaps fifty or even one hundred thousand dollars in today’s currency and she is glad they will be rich.
Mr. Pike is not so happy to turn in a man that he considered to be nice, but his wife is determined and will get the money…I will not say who the character is.
You can read this tale here: http://www.scott.kyschools.us/userfil...
July 5, 2015
Three stories read by Eudora Welty herself, which is a tremendous treat. The first, 'Why I Live at the P.O.' was sped up considerably, presumably to 'fit' onto the CD with the other two stories but keep it to the one hour limit. Shame. It was so fast that the voice was high pitched and gabbled some, and the subtleties of the story were consequently a bit lost. But after a few minutes you do get an 'ear' for it and enjoy the humour. 'Powerhouse' and 'Petrified Man' were in Miss Welty's normal voice, which was so welcome. I loved the gossipy, scandalous nature of 'Petrified Man' the most. Terrific to listen to, and such wonderful prose.
July 9, 2017
For this audiobook, Eudora Welty reads three of her classic stories: Why I Live at the P.O., Powerhouse, and The Petrified Man. It was delightful to hear Ms. Welty’s voice, and the reading highlights her wonderful ear for language and dialogue as well as a mischievous sense of humor. The first story was read at a faster pace than the others, but I think the speed fits the personality of the story’s narrator. The audiobook is based on an old LP.
April 1, 2012
Listened to the author read these on CD. She talks really fast!! I liked "Why I live at the PO" best.
January 3, 2016
"Why I Live at the P.O." (4 stars)
"Powerhouse" (4 stars)
"Petrified Man." (4 stars)
"Powerhouse" (4 stars)
"Petrified Man." (4 stars)
January 19, 2025
Only read for an assignment. Reminded me of listening to my dad tell a story. Her sister married some guy she'd been into. Her sister was pregnant with some other guys baby and failed to mention it to her husband before they got married. Once she popped out a baby way less than 9 months later, he divorced her. She came back home, stating that she had adopted the kid. When her sister called her on it, she started sh!t between her sister and her uncles. Their mom refused to admit that her daughter would have gotten pregnant out of wedlock and try to pass it off as someone else's. Then, the accusing sister made some "colored" girl pack her belongings to the post office where she worked, so she could live there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2020
After listening to this audio version read by the author I am now adding her other works to my TBR list. Her stories are rich in bringing out the feel of the time period and southern culture she writes.
April 23, 2021
My first read of Whelty last year left me unimpressed. i LOVED this collection of short stories however. Perhaps because it was a recording if the author herself.
May 21, 2022
There's a personal quality to these stories I can't quite put my finger on, as if they were simply written for the relaxing fascination of writing before bed. There's a sweet joy to their bounciness of characters and happenings without it ringing anything but true. It's almost memoir in its fondness for existence — of these people, of that time, of that place — some heartfelt documentation of lively folks living out their everyday southern life. It's just people being people with a real understanding of the tiny world they've each created, figuring out how to navigate the big picture when it finds its way inside and clashing.
September 16, 2023
It was a treat to listen to Eudora Welty's voice. For those saying the narration was too fast - I used the controls on my Kindle to slow it down to what seemed normal speaking speed for people from the south. My father was also from Mississippi - listening to Welty's narration took me back there. The first story - Why I Live at the P.O. - displayed Welty's gift for defining characters and scene quickly. Everything felt true to form, like people I had know who consistently breached boundaries. I was glad to have found this gem.
March 19, 2019
Introducing Welty to my oldest son this week, so I thought it might be nice to hear her own voice reading it. It was delightful to hear her voice, but we both agreed that these stories really need to be read in order to catch all the rich details. Eudora's performance does add something, but it would be best to read along so as not to miss all the nuances. "Why I Live at the P.O." is still my favorite of all her stories, just as it was when I was 13.
June 3, 2020
Fun.
Had trouble reading "Why I Live at the P.O." on previous attempts - listening to Eudora read it made it possible and enjoyable - fast speech and with the proper southern accents.
Sister is such a twit (as are they all).
This collection is a short introduction to Welty's short stories. I didn't enjoy Petrified Man as much as Why I live..., and Powerhouse.
Had trouble reading "Why I Live at the P.O." on previous attempts - listening to Eudora read it made it possible and enjoyable - fast speech and with the proper southern accents.
Sister is such a twit (as are they all).
This collection is a short introduction to Welty's short stories. I didn't enjoy Petrified Man as much as Why I live..., and Powerhouse.
October 14, 2021
I hated that the first story was so fast. Looking at other reviews, I guess the producers sped up her original reading. It was the most amusing in my opinion of all 3 stories. I did enjoy listening to Ms. Welty read her stories aloud. It made me imagine that the women in my family, sitting around the table, discussing life.
December 27, 2022
Why did I not know of Eudora Welty before now? These short stories are funny, punchy, and full of strong, southern, visual writing. I mean, people already know that, and that's why she was famous. I'm just behind the curve.
August 29, 2025
Don’t let my rating deter you from listening to the southern drawl of this narrator. Her voice was my favorite part. I might have liked these short stories (not my favorite form of literature) had I known or met the author.
April 22, 2018
Such a pleasure to hear her anucciation and voice. I'm looking forward to reading more of her works.
July 6, 2018
This was an audio book read by the author. I thought she read it too fast There was a lot of regional dialect. I’m not a fan.
December 29, 2018
It’s a wonderful experience to listen to Eudora Welty reading her own stories!
April 4, 2019
My goodness these were terrific. My first time reading Eudora.
July 5, 2019
This collection of stories allowed me to peek into the past. The voices are real and richly southern. Eudora Welty was a great writer.
January 12, 2020
At times Welty reads way too fast. Even at .75x speed she sometimes barrels through the reading.
February 7, 2022
This is really good! These stories would make great short one-acts.
August 30, 2022
A real treat to hear the stories told by Eudora Welty herself - just not my cup of tea. Maybe because I couldn’t relate, being a Yank an all.
October 7, 2022
Witty and sharp.
June 7, 2023
It takes a while to get into Welty's rhythm, but once you do, there's a lot of humor and insight to be found.
June 7, 2023
Do yourself a favor and knock the speed on ‘why I live at the PO’ by 10-15% to get Weltys true voice. Other stories are fine at regular speed.
Hearing her tell the stories was delightful.
Hearing her tell the stories was delightful.
February 3, 2025
i didn't particularly enjoy the short stories or the writing but i did love the voice of the author reading them.
April 26, 2025
The first story - why I live at the PO - read by the author - is just delightful.
May 11, 2025
I loved getting to read this collection of short stories by Welty. If you are a Welty fan, this is a must.
September 15, 2025
Welty stays with you like the warmth of a sunburn after the beach.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews