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As I Lay Dying

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( 183,793 ratings, 12,835 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is a compelling Southern Gothic novel that delves into the complexities of family dynamics. It follows the Bundren family as they embark on a journey to honour their matriarch's last wish to be buried in her hometown. The novel is presented through multiple perspectives, offering a deep exploration of each character's internal struggles and motivations, painting a vivid and intricate portrait of their turbulent lives.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by stories exploring complex family dynamics and the intricate workings of the human mind. Set in the American South, it may appeal to those who appreciate unique narrative styles, as the story unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering a rich tapestry of voices and experiences. Fans of Southern Gothic literature or deep examinations of grief and resilience are likely to find it compelling.

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The death and burial of Addie Bundren is told by members of her family, as they cart the coffin to Jefferson, Mississippi, to bury her among her people.

'Brilliant and compelling-one is constrained to follow to the end' Spectator

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Brilliant and compelling - one is constrained to follow to the end β€” Spectator

The death and burial of Addie Bundren is told by members of her family, as they cart the coffin to Jefferson, Mississippi, to bury her among her people. And as the intense desires, fears, and rivalries of the family are revealed in the vernacular of the Deep South, Faulkner presents a portrait of extraordinary power β€” as epic as the Old Testament, as American as Huckleberry Finn.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying is acclaimed as a masterpiece demonstrating dark humour and American literary excellence. Critics praise Faulkner as one of America's greatest writers, with this novel frequently cited alongside the finest works in American literature. The narrative artistry and originality are highlighted by esteemed critics, with comparisons to other greats such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099479314

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 January 1996

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 184g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Born in 1897 in New Albany, Mississippi, William Faulkner was the son of a family proud of their prominent role in the history of the south. He grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, and left high school at fifteen to work in his grandfather's bank. Rejected by the US military in 1915, he joined the Canadian flyers with the RAF, but was still in training when the war ended. Returning home, he studied at the University of Mississippi and visited Europe briefly in 1925. His first poem was published in The New Republic in 1919. His first book of verse and early novels followed, but his major work began with the publication of The Sound and the Fury in 1929. As I Lay Dying (1930), Sanctuary (1931), Light in August (1932), Absalom, Absalom! (1936) and The Wild Palms (1939) are the key works of his great creative period leading up to Intruder in the Dust (1948). During the 1930s, he worked in Hollywood on film scripts, notably The Blue Lamp, co-written with Raymond Chandler. William Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 and the Pulitzer Prize for The Reivers just before his death in July1962.

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