Sartoris

By William Faulkner

Book Overview

"Sartoris" is a seminal work by William Faulkner, serving as the first introduction to the legendary Yoknapatawpha County. The novel explores the decline of the Sartoris family, an aristocratic Southern lineage haunted by a legacy of violence and reckless bravery. Centered on the return of young Bayard Sartoris from the battlefields of World War I, the narrative delves into his inability to reconcile with the quiet life of Mississippi after the trauma of air combat and the death of his twin brother.

As Bayard spirals into self-destruction, the novel captures the tension between the decaying grandeur of the Old South and the encroaching modernity of the early 20th century. Through Faulkner's masterful prose, readers encounter a rich cast of characters, including the stoic Aunt Jenny and the patriarch Old Bayard, who embody the traditions and burdens of their heritage. "Sartoris" is a powerful examination of grief, masculinity, and the inescapable weight of the past, establishing the atmospheric and psychological depth that would define Faulkner's greatest literary achievements.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025418522
• ISBN13: 9781025418520
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 388 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

I didn't think English could be this beautiful.

I just finished this novel. It was my first experience with Faulkners' fiction. I have since purchased 8 more of his "Mississippi" novels. When Faulkner describes shade he names the exact trees making the shade: locust, gum, cypress, oak, pine, birch, willow. He does the same thing with flowers. I reread whole pages several times awed at Faulkners' power to describe. His characters are complex and distinct. He is able to write dialogue of several characters so clearly you feel like you are a fly on the wall observing. The descriptions of civil war antics of long dead relatives are hilarious. I can't believe this book is out of print. I can't believe it has taken me so long to discover America's greatest author.