Novels 1936–1940: Absalom, Absalom! / The Unvanquished / If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem / The Hamlet

The third volume of the series published by the Librería de America contains 4 novels that were published between 1936 and 1940. In these novels, a \nWilliam FAULKNER\n who is mature and fully in control of his prose continues to explore that post-slave South, still dominated by the ghosts of the past.

The novel that I liked the most is “Absalom, Absalom!” (1936). It deals with the tragic story of Thomas Sutpen, narrated from several points of view, especially that of the already well-known Quentin Compson.

“The Unvanquished” (1938), a collection of related stories about Colonel John Sartoris and his son Bayard, surprised me with its humorous, almost comic tone, which I had not noticed before in FAULKNER.

“If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem” (1939) seemed rather implausible to me, although it has all the characteristic elements of the author: the precise description of the characters using a great economy of words, the changes in narration, and the unusual structure.

Finally, “The Hamlet” (1940), the first installment of the Snopes family trilogy, is a relatively accessible and masterfully designed novel that describes how the corrupt clan makes its way from the hills of Yoknapatawpha County to the heart of the power centers of Jefferson.

I suppose I should feel bad that I could only read 10 pages before giving up.

However, this was just an overwhelming amount of work. I think there were literally 12 sentences in those 10 pages.

There were a total of 7 commas and 12 periods, with a lot of parentheses thrown in as well.

The author just didn't seem to have a proper grasp of using punctuation.

Moreover, the story itself was extremely depressing and showed no sign of getting any better.

It was clear that it was going to stay that way throughout.

Therefore, it's time for me to move on and explore other reading materials.

I believe there are much more engaging and well-written books out there waiting for me to discover.

Although I feel a bit disappointed about not being able to finish this one, I'm looking forward to finding something that will truly capture my interest and imagination.

Prime Faulkner once again showcases his remarkable literary prowess. These four novels not only expand the scope of Yoknapatawphuh county even further but also fill in the blanks left from his earlier works in his trademark idiom. The rich and detailed描绘 of this fictional county allows readers to immerse themselves in a world that is both vivid and complex. Faulkner's unique writing style, with its intricate sentence structures and vivid descriptions, brings the characters and landscapes of Yoknapatawphuh to life. Each novel adds a new layer to the overall narrative, deepening our understanding of the county and its inhabitants. Through these works, Faulkner continues to explore themes such as race, class, and family, offering profound insights into the human condition.

If I Forget Thee Jerusalem. This collection of Faulkner novels is one of Chester Stewart's collection of books.

It is the first time that I have delved into the works of Faulkner. At the beginning, I was truly challenged by his complex prose. The sentences seemed to wind and twist, making it a bit of a struggle to follow at times. However, as I persisted, I found myself increasingly drawn into the stories.

The characters and their plights were so vividly portrayed that they compelled me to keep reading. Each story seemed to unfold like a tragic drama, with all the emotions and conflicts laid bare. In the end, I was left with a sense of deep depression.

Faulkner's ability to create such powerful and moving stories is truly remarkable. Even though the reading experience was not always easy, it was undoubtedly a rewarding one. I look forward to exploring more of his works in the future.

Absalom! Absalom! is a remarkable masterpiece and the most captivating novel among the four. Faulkner vividly描绘s the story of Thomas Sutpen. In 1833, he stole 100 square miles of land from the Indians and established a plantation. He brought enslaved people from Haiti and together they built a large house where Sutpen lived until a few years after the Civil War. Sutpen also had a son (with an "octoroon") in Haiti who becomes significant in later events.

Faulkner is acutely aware of the savagery and horror of this situation. Sutpen is no hero, and this is not the refined antebellum South. It is a South where the worst individuals - the thieves, the confidence men, and the enslavers - are the ones with the grandest houses.

The story is told jointly by two men, who engage in a homoerotic conversation on a cold winter night in New Haven in 1909. Quentin Compson, a descendant of one of the side characters, visits an old lady, Miss Coldfield, at the beginning of the story. Miss Coldfield was a key figure in the events between 1830 and 1870. Her eerie, old-lady abode sets the tone for the entire story - a South full of secrets, with closed curtains and no light entering.

The next novel, The Unvanquished, is (mostly) about a crazy and badass Southern grandma and her family during the Civil War. She guards her chest of gold, which is plundered during the Northern occupation. However, she bravely walks into the officer's tent and retrieves it. She almost drowns while crossing a river with her family. Then, she undertakes an operation that earns her a lot of money - she partners with Ab Snopes to steal horses and mules from Northern regiments and sell them back to other regiments.

The Unvanquished is a bit too much of "the old lost cause" for me, whether ironic or not. The grandmother is still an enslaver and the mother of a Confederate general. Faulkner gets a little too cute with his message, overly praising the downtrodden Southerners who were severely affected by the Civil War.

The next novel is If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem, which is a real page-turner. It combines two stories into one. One is the story of a tall convict sent from Parchman to work on a levee during the 1927 flood of the lower Mississippi - the most destructive flood of the century. The other is a story of love, desperation, extreme shortsightedness and impracticality, and a growing sense of doom.

The scenes of the flood in the convict part are incredibly vivid. The convict gets swept away in a skiff with a woman when he is sent to rescue her and someone else. This is before the federal government implemented flood management, so the convict ends up floating over miles of farmland and into the swamps of Louisiana. There is no dry land that is not covered in snakes.

The final novel in the collection of four is The Hamlet. This is Faulkner at his most Twain-like. He tells the stories of the people in Yoknapatawpha County, which is close to his home base of Oxford. He takes his time with the stories, not overly concerned with connecting them. These are tales that are connected by time and place, but one event does not necessarily follow from the previous. The main characters are Ratliff, a sewing-machine seller who travels across four counties in a buckboard, and Flem Snopes.

I lived in Oxford for a short while and visited Rowan Oak multiple times. Faulkner outlined the events of The Hamlet on his bedroom wall.

It was sometimes challenging to read this book during the pandemic, with most of my family members always around. Deep concentration was sometimes required, especially for passages in Absalom and If I Forget Thee. But it is good work, and in the end, it is rewarding. And it is better to read it now, at around age 50, than it would have been to read it earlier.

This is going to be a very long summer.

The days seem to stretch on forever, with the sun shining brightly and the temperature rising steadily.

The heat can be oppressive at times, making it difficult to find any relief.

But despite the challenges, there are also many opportunities for fun and adventure during the summer months.

There are beaches to visit, hikes to take, and outdoor activities of all kinds to enjoy.

It's a time to relax, unwind, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

So even though this summer may be long, it's also going to be filled with excitement and possibility.

Let's make the most of it and embrace all that it has to offer.

Editor is sitting at his desk, the ashtray filled with stubs. A yellowish manuscript lies in his pale hands. Just then, a man enters the door, his voice booming with fury:

“You’ve placed a period in the middle of that sentence.”

Editor: “Oh, Bill, good to see you, pal. I’m afraid I don’t…”

Bill: “Yew kilt my book. You can't do that. You just can't interrupt a sentence and destroy its meaning with a period out of thin air.”

Editor: “Look Bill, I am not following you here. What are we talking about?”

Bill: “You know too well what I am talking about: Chapter Six. You’ve inserted a period in the middle of the sentence even if it must be absolutely clear to everyone the sentence is not finished.”

Editor, looking at the ashtray: “I see, THAT chapter. Look Bill, let’s talk about it. I thought maybe, just maybe, it would be easier for people to read it if there would be two two-pages long sentences instead of the one four pages long.”

Bill: “What people?”

Editor: “Readers?”

Bill: “Readers? Well, let me tell you what your readers will see. They will see a writer who is not capable to finish his sentence correctly. Who inconceivably interrupts the logical structure of the crucial part of the story. Everyone will see it. Them fokes will reckon Faulkner's a durn feller who aint no good.”

Editor carefully lights his cigarette: “A writer who is not capable to finish his sentence… Look Bill, we are getting somewhere here at last. Some people think it might be a good idea to finish a sentence while the reader still remembers its beginning and (Bill waves his hands)… please, do not interrupt me here…”

Bill: “Ah, I believe you don't mind interrupting others in the middle of their sentence.”

Editor: “…and some people think it’s even possible to use like ten sentences instead of one, you know.”

Bill: “Gol darn it! What fokes again?”

Editor: “Other writers, like Mr. Hemingway and…”

Bill: “Mr Hemingway, you say? Mr Hemingway who can't handle enough vocabulary to need a comma in his books? That rascal?”

Editor, looking at the ashtray more resolutely: “Well at least he knows how to sell books and earn money for his publisher.”

Bill: “Oh, bless yore heart, I reckon we atalkin bidnis hyere? Using English for varmints as the way to get rich, really? Now, drop that period and use a semi-colon just as I did and as any decent writer would do.”

You simply can't make a wrong choice when it comes to reading the Dixie Express. The novels included in this collection are truly some of his most significant and important work. Each story within it offers a unique and captivating experience. The characters are vividly brought to life, and the plots are filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you're a fan of mystery, romance, or adventure, there's something in the Dixie Express to satisfy your literary cravings. It's a collection that you'll find yourself coming back to time and time again, as it has the power to transport you to another world and keep you entertained for hours on end.