The Saddest Words

By Michael Gorra,

Book cover of The Saddest Words: William Faulkner's Civil War

Book description

Michael Gorra asks provocative questions in this historic portrait of William Faulkner and his world. He explores whether William Faulkner should still be read in this new century and asks what his works tell us about the legacy of slavery and the American Civil War, the central quarrel in America's…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Saddest Words as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The American Civil War is everywhere, yet nowhere in William Faulkner’s fiction. This book explores the history of Yoknapatawpha County and the fiction of William Faulkner’s Civil War. It is a fascinating exploration of historical memory, race-making, narrative construction, and the South during and after Sherman.

Like The Dawn Watch, I especially loved it because it was neither a history book nor a work of literary analysis. If you have read Faulkner, this is an essential book that helps you understand how all of this is really about the Civil War, even though you’ll find very little gunfire in…

Want books like The Saddest Words?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 94 books like The Saddest Words.

Browse books like The Saddest Words

Book cover of Things Fall Apart
Book cover of The Empire of Necessity: Slavery, Freedom, and Deception in the New World
Book cover of The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,188

readers submitted
so far, will you?