No serious American reader should go without reading at least one of Faulkner’s many great books. Period.
One of the most notable American authors of the 1920s and 1930s, Faulkner’s works really took off after he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949. While much of his work take place in the south—he was a native Mississippian—his dense, complex prose makes him enjoyable for more advanced readers. Certainly, if you have yet to read one of his novels, it is worth the time to get to know this American great.
With that being said, it is difficult to find the time to get through multiple Faulkner books. So if you are looking for one book that best defines Faulkner, and understand his literary prose and style, then hand’s down, Light in August is the best novel to check all of these blocks.
Light in August
Light in August pushed the boundaries of American literature in the 1930’s. There is no question. The two main characters alone would shock the puritan sense of normal for this time.
First, there is an unwed pregnant woman that is searching for the father of her soon to be born child.
Next, there is the wandering laborer that is part black but can pass for white. And so he does, getting the work he can get and which would not be afforded to him if his secret were known.
Taking place in a fictional county—many think it was based Faulkner’s home town in Mississippi—the plot weaves in and out of present and past, developing the characters superbly.
It culminates in the murder of a Yankee woman, the landowner where our part black character lives and works, along with the likely father of the young girl’s unborn child.
As the plot unfolds, it is clear that Faulkner’s goal was to focus on revealing the culture of the American South during the Great Depression. In doing so, he exposed many facets of race, class and gender roles during this harsh period in American history.
This work has often been considered one of the most influential books of the 1900s. There is no question is influenced many writers to come, including Hemingway.
If you have never read a book by Faulkner, then you owe it to yourself to read at least one. And if you do, then there is no question that it should be Light in August.
A must read for any serious American Literature Aficionado.