Faulkner left Oxford in 1924 and settled for a time in New Orleans. There he met Elizabeth Prall, who had been his superior at Lord & Taylor's and who was now the wife of Sherwood Anderson. The two men became friends, meeting in the afternoons to talk, quarrel, drink, drift through the hot streets, and exchange tall tales they both loved to tell. Anderson, who had a genuine gift for divining talent, suggested to Faulkner that he try his hand at a novel. Years later Faulkner would recall that when he saw how comfortable life was for Anderson (which suggests he was not yet in the habit of seeing very deeply) he decided that writing would be a pleasant way to earn his living. Six weeks later he came to Mrs. Anderson with the manuscript of a novel which Anderson agreed to recommend to his publisher provided he would not have to read it first.