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As I Lay Dying (Norton Critical Editions) Paperback – December 4, 2009

by William Faulkner (Author), Michael Gorra (Editor)

167

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Long been recognized not only as one of William Faulkner’s greatest works, but also as the most accessible of his major novels.

This Norton Critical Edition is based on the 1985 corrected text and is accompanied by detailed explanatory annotations.

“Backgrounds and Contexts” is divided into three sections, each of which includes a concise introduction by Michael Gorra that carefully frames the issues presented, with particular attention to As I Lay Dying’s place in Faulkner’s literary life. “Contemporary Reception” reprints American, English, and French reviews by Clifton Fadiman, Henry Nash Smith, Edwin Muir, and Maurice Coindreau, among others, along with Valery Larbaud’s never-before-translated preface to the first French edition of the novel. “The Writer and His Work” examines Faulkner’s claim to have written the novel in six weeks without changing a word. It includes his comments on the book’s composition along with his later thoughts on and changing opinions of it, sample pages from the manuscript, his Nobel Prize address, and the little-known short story in which he first used the title. “Cultural Context” reprints an essay by Carson McCullers and an excerpt from James Agee’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men along with other materials that address questions of Southern Agrarianism and the Southern grotesque.

“Criticism” begins with the editor’s introduction to As I Lay Dying’s critical history and scholarly reception. Eleven major essays are provided by Olga W. Vickery, Cleanth Brooks, Calvin Bedient, André Bleikasten, Eric Sundquist, Stephen M. Ross, Doreen Fowler, Patrick O’Donnell, Richard Gray, John Limon, and Donald M. Kartiganer.

A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography are also included.

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

December 4, 2009
Dimensions

5.1 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

0393931382
ISBN-13

978-0393931389
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Faulkner (1897–1962) is the Nobel Prize–winning author of The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying, among other works. These two novels were originally published by Liveright in the 1920s.

Michael Gorra is the Mary Augusta Jordan Professor of English at Smith College, where he has taught since 1985. He is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Guggenheim Foundation and, for his work as a reviewer, of the Balakian Award from the National Book Critics Circle. His books include The Saddest Words: William Faulkner’s Civil War; Portrait of a Novel: Henry James and the Making of on American Masterpiece, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography; The Bells in Their Silence: Travels through Germany; After Empire: Scott, Naipaul, Rushdie; The English Novel at Mid-Century; and, as editor, The Portable Conrad and the Norton Critical Editions of The Sound and the Fury and The Portrait of a Lady.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (December 4, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393931382
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393931389
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #87,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #43 in American Literature Criticism

Customer Reviews:
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4.4 out of 5

167 global ratings

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olingerstories

As I Lay Dying--Critical Edition

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2010

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Faulkner is not for everyone, I think anyone who has ever read a single page of his writing can
agree to that. Stream of consciousness dictates to the point of distraction, characters contradict
themselves, and you almost break out in a sweat as atmospherically he's nothing but pure Mississippi.
But, he's fascinating with his use of language, and, amazingly, his stories move
forward. The trials and heartache involved in seeking to transport Addie Bundren to her desired
resting place in death are so haunting that the book is nearly impossible to forget.
The newly released Norton Critical Edition is a great help in putting it all together.
There are explanatory footnotes included in the text, along with a fine introduction and critical
essays at the back.

26 people found this helpful

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Writer and Editor

One of the best books I've ever read

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2011

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I purchased this in connection with a fiction class and am so happy that I did. It is worth reading and re-reading. I highly recommend the Norton Critical Edition. Others in my class who had different editions were not as pleased with their versions.

Be prepared to spend some time with this - it isn't a quick read, but it will stay with you for a very long time.

5 people found this helpful

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Jeffrey M.

If you love this book, you need this edition

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2013

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"As I Lay Dying" begs to be read more than once and with a careful, thoughtful eye. This edition, replete with analysis, lets you go deeper.

I was especially thrilled to see the comparison between Faulkner and the Russian novelists.

I can't recommend this edition more highly.

One person found this helpful

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Serena Dee Latiolais

I really enjoyed reading it

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2015

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I purchased this book when my sister was dying. It was not what I expected but then, what is? I really enjoyed reading it, tho it is dark in places. Faulkner is a classic ( and classy) writer.

One person found this helpful

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J. Paschal

May Not Have Otherwise Read

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2011

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Classic fiction really isn't my cup of tea. I did really enjoy Faulkner's "stream of consciousness" writing style. At first, I really fell into the story and the plight of the characters. Then I began to lose interest with the slow pace of the plot. However, towards the end, the drama increased and I got back into the story. There were some amazing lines of thought in the story that really made me think. I think my favorite was a line from Addie Bundren "... and that sin and love and fear are just sounds that people who never sinned nor loved nor feared have for what they never had and cannot have until they forget the words." Overall, As I Lay Dying was a dark novel that is deeply moving and lyrical at times, and sharply to-the-point and simple at others. Glad I read it.

3 people found this helpful

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staci brannon

As I Lay Dying - READ!

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2011

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As I Lay Dying is one of Faulkners greatest novels. It's only 150 pages long. He has done something incredible with this novel. Anyway, it shipped fast and in new condition. No tears or defects. This is a good seller!

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Ellen M. Reardon

and I am sure many people love and appreciate this novel on a totally different level ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016

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This book is not my cup of tea.
I purchased it for an American Lit class in college. I am a big reader but I often struggle with books that are in unique styles or voices. I had an extremely difficult time getting through this book and definitely would have abandoned it if not reading it for school.
I understand that it is a classic, and I am sure many people love and appreciate this novel on a totally different level - the story itself was interesting, however due to the writing I struggled to really pick up many of the concepts of the story until discussed in class. I would not read another Faulkner book if I didn't have to.

10 people found this helpful

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Public Profile Name

Put it in your cart and check out

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2020

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Loved it.

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judy

good book

Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2023

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enjoyed the book. really good quality and no damages done during shipping.

Cf

Pour la fac

Reviewed in France on June 14, 2022

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Edition demandee en fac d anglais. Ras

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Carme

Fantastic

Reviewed in Spain on November 7, 2017

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Saw this book at my university library, and after checking the price online immediately decided to buy it. Amazing product to get a complete and all-around vision of the novel. I will be using the sources it provides as bibliography for my final dissertation.

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Sandy

Great novel and terrific additional material

Reviewed in Germany on November 13, 2012

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The Norton critical edition of Faulkner's As I Lay Dying is great for students of American literature. The novel itself constantly employs tragedy and farce which results in a very sombre and violent tonality. The additional material is all one may need to write a paper on the novel. This edition is highly recommendable.

Brunel

SANS TITRE

Reviewed in France on July 2, 2019

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COURS

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