Description

“Nothing less than spellbinding . . . It’s an eye-opener. Anecdotal without being tawdry, analytical without being academic, it captures the essence of Faulkner’s life with the narrative drive of a novel.” — Houston Chronicle

“A splendid life of William Faulkner . . . Not only readable but downright enthralling.” — Seattle Times

William Faulkner was a literary genius, and one of America's most important and influential writers. Drawing on previously unavailable sources--including letters, memoirs, and interviews with Faulkner's daughter and lovers--Jay Parini has crafted a biography that delves into the mystery of this gifted and troubled writer. His Faulkner is an extremely talented, obsessive artist plagued by alcoholism and a bad marriage who somehow transcends his limitations. Parini weaves the tragedies and triumphs of Faulkner's life in with his novels, serving up a biography that's as engaging as it is insightful.

An obsessive artist who drank himself to the brink. A literary genius who somehow transcended his own limitations.

Against the Odds: Based on previously unavailable letters and interviews, Parini explores how an artist plagued by alcoholism and a bad marriage produced some of the greatest works of American literature. The Making of a Modernist: Discover the forces that shaped Faulkner, from the long shadow of his great-grandfather, the "Old Colonel," to the creation of his mythical Yoknapatawpha County. Narrative Biography: Written with the narrative drive of a novel, this account weaves together the tragedies and triumphs of Faulkner's life with the creation of his timeless books. Nobel Prize Winner: An insightful look into the life and mind of one of the 20th century's most important writers, a Nobel laureate who redefined the American novel.