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Light in August

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( 65,744 ratings, 3,702 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
Light in August by William Faulkner is a novel set in the American South, intertwining the lives of various characters. Primarily, it follows Joe Christmas, an orphaned drifter struggling with racial identity and isolation. The narrative delves deeply into themes of race, identity, and the human condition, all woven through the rich tapestry of Faulkner’s intricate storytelling.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring rich, complex narratives set in the American South during the early 20th century. It's known for its deep examination of themes like identity, race, and isolation, delivered through Faulkner's signature stream-of-consciousness style. If you're intrigued by character-driven stories that delve into the human psyche, you might find this novel particularly engaging.

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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

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

Embark on spine-tingling, mind-altering, and deliciously atmospheric journeys into the dark side of America with nine of its most uncanny classics.

VINTAGE CLASSICS' AMERICAN GOTHIC SERIES: Experience spine-tingling, mind-altering and deliciously atmospheric storytelling as you journey into the dark side of America with nine of its most uncanny classics.

A landmark in American fiction, Light in August explores Faulkner's central theme: the nature of evil. Joe Christmasβ€”a man doomed, deracinated and aloneβ€”wanders the Deep South in search of an identity and a place within society. After killing his perverted, God-fearing lover, it becomes inevitable that he is pursued by a lynch-hungry mob. Yet, after the sacrifice, there is new life, a determined ray of light in Faulkner's complex and tragic world.

Series: Vintage American Gothic

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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?

Light in August by William Faulkner is often praised for its intricate narrative and deep exploration of racial and social themes in the American South. Reviewers frequently commend Faulkner's powerful character development and complex storytelling, which spotlight issues of identity, isolation, and community. The novel is regarded as both challenging and rewarding, with Faulkner's prose style noted for its richness and symbolic depth.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784878580

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 192.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 384

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 July 1962.

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