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A Reader's Guide to William Faulkner: The Short Stories

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This recent entry by Volpe not only complements his Readers' Guide to Faulkner's novels but fills a gaping hole--the paucity of commentary on the short stories. Despite their challenges and popularity, especially among teachers providing students with an introduction to Faulkner, the short stories are rarely afforded the attention and respect they deserve. Volpe's discussions not only illuminate each of the stories but make apparent their connections with the themes, plots, characters, and narrative devices of the novels. Ultimately, we are led to an even greater appreciation of the coherence and unity of Faulkner's achievement.

Volpe's evaluation of a story's success or lack thereof should be taken as no more than a statement to be proven by the reader's own experience. The evaluative commentary becomes problematic in a few instances when it precedes and replaces the substantive information that the reader is seeking.