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The Sound and the Fury

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( 193,360 ratings, 10,760 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
In The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner delves into the decline of the Compson family in the American South through the eyes of four distinct narrators, capturing their struggles, frustrations, and personal tragedies. The novel intricately explores themes of time, memory, and moral decay, employing a stream of consciousness style to offer a deep emotional and psychological portrait of its characters. Faulkner's narrative challenges readers by weaving together past and present, demanding attention to uncover the underlying tragedy of familial disintegration.
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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're intrigued by narratives that explore the complexities of family dynamics and delve into the depths of human consciousness through a unique and innovative writing style. It appeals to readers who appreciate rich, multi-layered storytelling and are fascinated by the exploration of time, memory, and the human experience.

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A complex, intense American novel of family from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

With an introduction by Richard Hughes

Ever since the first furore was created on its publication in 1929, The Sound and the Fury has been considered one of the key novels of this century.

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

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

A towering, intense novel of family from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

A complex, intense American novel of family from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

With an introduction by Richard Hughes.

Ever since the first furore was created on its publication in 1929, The Sound and the Fury has been considered one of the key novels of this century. Depicting the gradual disintegration of the Compson family through four fractured narratives, the novel explores intense, passionate family relationships where there is no love, only self-centredness. At its heart, this is a novel about lovelessness โ€” 'only an idiot has no grief; only a fool would forget it. What else is there in this world sharp enough to stick to your guts?'

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?

Widely regarded as a significant work of American literature, The Sound and the Fury showcases Faulkner's boundless creativity and powerful imagination. Critics praise its originality, philosophical depth, and unique style, noting its unparalleled characterisation and blend of humour and tragic intensity. Readers are drawn to its lifelike experience, a departure from conventional storytelling, and view it as a deeply moving and enduring masterpiece.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099475019

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 January 1995

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Richard Hughes
  • Introduction by Richard Hughes

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 205g

Pages: 288

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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