The best William Faulkner books

William Faulkner is widely considered one of the most influential American writers of all time. A winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature, his works have been enjoyed by countless readers across the globe.

This article will provide an overview of William Faulkner’s best works, exploring why they have achieved such critical acclaim and making a case for why you should consider giving them a chance.

Who was William Faulkner?

William Faulkner was an American writer from Mississippi. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American literature, he was born William Cuthbert Falkner in New Albany in 1897 to Murry and Maud Butler Falkner. Faulkner spent most of his childhood in the town of Oxford.

His great-grandfather had been a prominent figure in the Civil War, serving as a Colonel in the Confederate Army. He had also tried his hand at writing with titles such as The White Rose of Memphis. However, he wasn’t as successful as his grandson.

After failing to garner enough credits to graduate from high school, Faulkner joined the Canadian Royal Airforce and trained as a pilot, hoping to play a part in World War 1. But the conflict ended before he could serve in combat. After the war, he returned to Oxford and enrolled at the University of Mississippi.

Faulkner wrote his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay, in 1926. The novel was followed by a series of critically acclaimed books, including As I Lay Dying (1930), Light in August (1932), and Absalom, Absalom! (1936). He also wrote many short stories, like Dry September and A Rose for Emily. His work received numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes (one each for A Fable and The Reivers) and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949.

Faulkner’s novels were primarily about the South, particularly his native Mississippi and the fictional Yoknapatawpha County. His works were largely associated with the literary movement known as Stream of Consciousness, a style that employed long sentences full of complex thoughts and images.

Faulkner also worked as a screenwriter and collaborated on many Hollywood screenplays, often writing them under pseudonyms such as “William Scott” or “John Franklin.” His adaptations included Ernest Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not, Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, and Joan Crawford’s Possessed.

Faulkner married Estelle Oldham in 1929. They were blessed with only one child – Jill Faulkner. Over the years, Faulkner met many other writers, including James Joyce, Sherwood Anderson, Malcolm Cowley, and Joseph Conrad.

Toward the end of his life, Faulkner served as the Writer-in-Residence at the University of Virginia for around two years. In 1962 at the age of 64, Faulkner suffered a fatal heart attack at Wright’s Sanatorium near Byhalia in Lafayette County, Mississippi. After his death, his wife and daughter lived at Rowan Oak until Estelle’s death in 1972.

William Faulkner’s works are widely recognized and respected in Southern literature. Scholars continue to uncover new themes in his writings, while those new to his work can find rich stories that have captivated readers for generations.

Best books by William Faulkner

The Wild Palms

Get lost in William Faulkner’s complicated tale of two love stories intertwined with a struggling marriage. Follow the lives of Robert and Charlotte in New Orleans as they try to endure hardships together while struggling with their inner demons.

The Marble Faun 

The Marble Faun is a remarkable work of poetry written with finesse and precision. It is a book filled with evocative imagery, vivid descriptions, and symbolic language that creates an atmosphere of beauty and mysticism.

The Hamlet

The Hamlet is a masterful work portraying the ambitious rise of the Snopes family in a small Mississippi town. It offers an insightful and darkly humorous take on classical tragedy with its vivid depiction of the hubris of pre-war Southern life and its decline post-reconstruction.

The Town

The second installment of the Snopes Trilogy is a richly-textured and powerful novel that chronicles the ruthless ambitions of Flem Snopes as he attempts to gain control of the small town of Jefferson, Mississippi. It is populated with colorful characters, vibrant settings, and gripping moments of humor and profundity that linger long after reading.

The Mansion

As the last installment of the Snopes Trilogy, this epic novel chronicles the rise and fall of the powerful Snopes family. Set after the Civil War, the story follows a tangled web of relationships between the Snopes family, their neighbors, and those wishing to exploit their power.

Sartoris

Sartoris is a sprawling, emotionally charged exploration of a noble Southern family struggling to keep alive the legacy of their ancestors amidst financial desperation and recklessness. A lyrical, powerful chronicle of the conflict between tradition and modernity, it is an iconic work set in Faulkner’s fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi.

Requiem For A Nun

Requiem For A Nun is a sequel to Sanctuary, focusing on the turbulent misadventures of Temple Drake. The story follows her journey from an automobile wreck to the Luxembourg Gardens in a riveting exploration of her complexities.

Intruder In the Dust

A classic Gothic novel set in the deep South, this is a fascinating tale of an elderly black farmer falsely accused of murder and the young white boy who sets out to prove his innocence.

Go Down, Moses

Go Down, Moses is a collection of seven powerful and interconnected stories set in Faulkner’s mythical Yoknapatawpha County. It presents a deep exploration of the complex dynamics between black and white people.

Faulkner’s collected stories offer an insightful and thought-provoking look at the changing relationship between races.

The Sound and the Fury 

The book chronicles the struggles of the Compson clan as they grapple with history, legacy, and secrets. It’s an iconic literary masterpiece that explores love, loss, identity, and redemption through its complex characters and powerful narrative structure.

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FAQ

What is William Faulkner best known for?

He is best known for his works set in his native state of Mississippi, including novels such as The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Light in August, Absalom, Absalom!, and Go Down, Moses.

What did Faulkner win the Nobel Prize for?

Faulkner won two Pulitzer Prizes for A Fable and The Reivers.

What is the easiest Faulkner to read?

The easiest William Faulkner novel to read is Sanctuary, published in 1931. This work features a straightforward and more accessible writing style than many of the author’s other works.

What did William Faulkner believe?

William Faulkner believed that the old beliefs of the South, while flawed, were better than a society built on moral emptiness.

What did William Faulkner say about the role of the writer?

William Faulkner believed that a writer’s job is to explore, analyze, and illuminate the complex inner conflicts of their characters.

What is Faulkner’s most famous novel?

William Faulkner’s most well-known and acclaimed novel is The Sound and the Fury, published in 1929.