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One Matchless Time: The Life of William Faulkner

Forrest Reed

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William Faulkner was born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi. He was the eldest of four children born to Murry Cuthbert Faulkner, a railroad executive, and Maud Butler Faulkner. Faulkner's father was a descendant of a wealthy Virginia family, and his mother was the daughter of a prominent Mississippi planter. Faulkner's early childhood was spent in a comfortable home in New Albany, but his family's fortunes declined after his father's death in 1902.

One Matchless Time: A Life of William Faulkner

by Jay Parini

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1523 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	532 pages

In 1905, Faulkner's family moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where he attended the University of Mississippi for two years. Faulkner was a brilliant student, but he was also restless and rebellious. He dropped out of college in 1918 and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war, Faulkner returned to Oxford and began his writing career.

Faulkner's early novels were met with critical acclaim, but they were also controversial. His complex and evocative prose style, his exploration of the American South, and his insights into the human condition made him a polarizing figure in literature. In 1949, Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his "powerful and artistic interpretation of the modern South." Faulkner continued to write until his death in 1962.

## Faulkner's Major Works

Faulkner's major works include The Sound and the Fury (1929),As I Lay Dying (1930),Absalom, Absalom! (1936),Light in August (1932),and The Reivers (1962). These novels are all set in the American South, and they explore the complex social and racial issues of the region. Faulkner's characters are often flawed and complex, and his writing is often characterized by its use of stream-of-consciousness and flashbacks.

The Sound and the Fury is considered by many to be Faulkner's masterpiece. The novel is told from the perspectives of four different characters, and it provides a complex and multi-faceted look at the Compson family. As I Lay Dying is another important novel by Faulkner. The novel is told from the perspectives of 15 different characters, and it follows the Bundren family as they travel to bury their mother. Absalom, Absalom! is a tragic story of a father and son, and it is one of Faulkner's most ambitious works. Light in August is a complex and challenging novel that explores the themes of race and violence. The Reivers is a more light-hearted novel that tells the story of a group of boys who steal a car.

## Faulkner's Legacy

William Faulkner is one of the most important and influential American writers of the 20th century. His complex and evocative prose style, his exploration of the American South, and his insights into the human condition have made him a towering figure in literature. Faulkner's work has been translated into more than 40 languages, and he has been the subject of numerous studies and critical essays. Faulkner's legacy is secure, and he will continue to be read and studied for generations to come.