Absalom, Absalom -- Background/Resources Thread

[Marc]

Welcome to our first group read of 2017!

This thread will be for general discussion about Faulkner, American History/the South, and for sharing links/reviews. I'll likely be editing this first post as we go along to add interesting links/resources.

I'll open up another thread under this same folder where we can begin discussing the book itself.

A few questions for this thread:
- Have you read Faulkner before?
- What (if any) knowledge about the book do/did you have coming into this book?
- Is this an historical time and place with which you're familiar?
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BACKGROUND/RESOURCES
- Absalom, Absalom was the 9th of 17 novels Faulkner wrote
- King David's 3rd son was named Absalom
- Absalom, Absalom Sparknotes Page (has general summary and chapter-by-chapter analysis for those of you into that sort of thing)
- "How William Faulkner Tackled Race & Freed the South from Itself"

[Georgia]

Yes, I have read Faulkner before. I think I've read 15 of his novels and several of his short stories. All were read in college. I remember the language being beautiful and some of the characters being terrifying. I was a History/English major, so this is a historical time and place that I am familiar with and am looking forward to revisiting.

[Marc]

Wow--15?!! That's wonderful. I was also an English major and The Sound and the Fury was my first exposure to Faulkner. I've only read two more of his novels in addition to that. Thanks for joining in the group read!

[Georgia]

Anytime a novel course was available, I signed up.....American novel, British novel, Russian novel, Modern Novel, directed readings.

[Scott]

I've read a few Faulkner novels: The Sound and Fury (my favorite), As I Lay Dying (high school read, does that count?), The Reivers (lightest, easiest, and perhaps his last work?), and Light in August.

I have heard of Absalom, Absalom - - but have no preconception of what it's about (except I know the heartbreaking Biblical story of David's son Absalom).

I teach a high school U.S. history course, and my family hails from the South, so I probably know a smattering about the time and era.

[Marc]

Something tells me "smattering" might be underselling your history knowledge for this time and era, Scott!

Similarly, I had heard of Absalom, Absalom! but didn't know anything about it. Until I opened this discussion thread, I hadn't even noticed that the exclamation point is part of the actual title of the book.

[Seamus]

I've read a few Faulkners - Reivers; As I Lay Dying; The Sound and the Fury. I've read the last two in the past month so I'm playing accelerated catch up.
My knowledge of the era and place is really a smattering (unlike Scott's, which I imagine is quite joined up) It probably owes as much to westerns as history books! That said, it is an era I feel comfortable enough in to imagine I 'get' much of the implied social mores and background.

[Anthony, Administrator, Keeper of the Really Good Coffee]

Of his 19 novels the only one I haven't read is A Fable, and I have read about half of his 100+ short stories and his 2nd book of poetry the marble faun. As amazingly poetic as his fiction is, and I give him a spot in my top three greatest ever writers, I do not find his poetry remarkable. Maybe his level of poetry is so high in his prose that the poetry just doesn't stand out for me. Especially in light in August and go down Moses amdvthe second half of wild palms there is a passage on almost every page that is bettert poetry than my best poem on my best day!!!!

[Anthony, Administrator, Keeper of the Really Good Coffee]

My uncle Walter k Everett wrote "1234 Faulkner characters" for his thesis. It has been out of print nearly 50 years but I recommend it if you find it on Amazon. I do own a copy:)

https://www.amazon.com/Faulkners-Art-...

[Seamus]

Looks like an interesting companion to Faulkner, Anthony. I may get myself a copy at some stage. I see Faulkner is a family tradition.