" when he died, piles of letters, packages and manuscripts sent by admirers were found, none of which he had opened. in fact, the only letters he did open were those from publishers, and then only very cautiously: he would make a tiny slit in the envelope and then shake it to see if a cheque appeared. if it didn’t, then the letter would simply join all those other things that can wait forever.

— javier marias on faulkner, written lives.