“I set out deliberately to write a tour-de-force. Before I ever put pen to paper and set down the first word I knew what the last word would be and almost where the last period would fall.” —William Faulkner on As I Lay Dying As I Lay Dying is Faulkner’s harrowing account of the Bundren family’s odyssey across the Mississippi countryside to bury Addie, their wife and mother. Narrated in turn by … mother. Narrated in turn by each of the family members—including Addie herself—as well as others the novel ranges in mood, from dark comedy to the deepest pathos. Considered one of the most influential novels in American fiction in structure, style, and drama, As I Lay Dying is a true 20th-century classic.
This edition reproduces the corrected text of As I Lay Dying as established in 1985 by Noel Polk.
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Mystery/suspense has been for most of my life the predominant ingredient in my reading diet, but recently I realized that I was—temporarily, I’m sure—satiated with that sort of tale. Thus, I took a break to read some mainstream and literary fiction.
William Faulkner has been a literary hero of mine since I first discovered his work when I was in …
One of Faulkner’s more approachable novels. A classic.
Perhaps the quintessential novel of the American South in the first half of the twentieth century, “As I Lay Dying,” is innovative and highly unusual even by today’s standards, much less than by those of 1930, the year it was published. It followed on the heels of “The Sound and the Fury,” Faulkner’s most famous work.
The novel is narrated by …
None of the characters are likeable, and are all incredibly stupid. Maybe that was the intent, but it didn’t make for an enjoyable read. I found it difficult to finish, because I didn’t care what happened to those people.
Tough read but I sorted it out. Did access the Cliff Notes afterward to confirm that I actually got what the author was trying to convey. I’m NOT an English Major!!
Great literary art. My personal favorite of Faulkner.
Spoof by a great American southern writer.
This is the worse book I’ve ever read! Don’t waste your time
I just really love Faulkner.
I felt a bit guilty because I didn’t like this “classic” and maybe it just means I didn’t get it. The stream of consciousness style was random and made it very difficult to connect with and identify with any of these tragic characters. Sad story.
Not easy to read. Each chapter is told by a different character, but man is it powerful!
One of my all-time favorites!
Faulkner is a master
Extremely boring and redundant.
Absolutely hilarious with a twist I didn’t see coming.
Faulkner is a remarkable author and his characters have such depth and truth. When I read this I felt I could see,smell, and touch the world he describes. Don’t miss it
Hard to read sometimes, but no-one evokes the deep south like Faulkner.
All of Faulkner is worth reading. This is especially gratifying.
Similar to tocacco road but more so surprise ending
It’s Faulkner, so I completely recommend this bizarre and twisted slice of Southern Gothic Greatness. Flawless.
Read. All. Faulkner. (That’s my mission.)