Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

Light in August

By William Faulkner

By William Faulkner

By William Faulkner
Foreword by C. E. Morgan

By William Faulkner
Foreword by C. E. Morgan

By William Faulkner

By William Faulkner

By William Faulkner
Read by Scott Brick

By William Faulkner
Read by Scott Brick

Best Seller

Part of Vintage International

Part of Modern Library 100 Best Novels

Part of Vintage International

Paperback $18.00

Jan 30, 1991 | ISBN 9780679732266

Hardcover $24.00

Apr 02, 2002 | ISBN 9780679642480

Ebook $5.99

May 18, 2011 | ISBN 9780307792174

Audiobook Download $25.00

Apr 18, 2006 | 1043 Minutes

All Formats
+
    Light in August by William Faulkner
    Hardcover $24.00
    Apr 02, 2002 | ISBN 9780679642480

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (3) +

    Paperback
    +

    • Paperback $18.00

      Jan 30, 1991 | ISBN 9780679732266

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Hardcover
    –

    • Hardcover $24.00

      Apr 02, 2002 | ISBN 9780679642480

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook

      May 18, 2011 | ISBN 9780307792174

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Audio
    +

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About Light in August

    From the Nobel Prize winner—one of the most highly acclaimed writers of the twentieth century—a novel set in the American South during Prohibition about hopeful perseverance in the face of mortality.
    Light in August features some of Faulkner’s most memorable characters: guileless, dauntless Lena Grove, in search of the father of her unborn child; Reverend Gail Hightower, who is plagued by visions of Confederate horsemen; and Joe Christmas, a desperate, enigmatic drifter consumed by his mixed ancestry.

    “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” —William Faulkner

    About Light in August

    Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time

    From the Modern Library’s new set of beautifully repackaged hardcover classics by William Faulkner—also available are Snopes, As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom!, and Selected Short Stories

    One of William Faulkner’s most admired and accessible novels, Light in August reveals the great American author at the height of his powers. Lena Grove’s resolute search for the father of her unborn child begets a rich, poignant, and ultimately hopeful story of perseverance in the face of mortality. It also acquaints us with several of Faulkner’s most unforgettable characters, including the Reverend Gail Hightower, plagued by visions of Confederate horsemen, and Joe Christmas, a ragged, itinerant soul obsessed with his mixed-race ancestry. Powerfully entwining these characters’ stories, Light in August brings to life Faulkner’s imaginary South, one of literature’s great invented landscapes, in all of its unerringly fascinating glory. Along with a new Foreword by C. E. Morgan, this edition reproduces the corrected text of Light in August as established in 1985 by Faulkner expert Noel Polk.

    About Light in August

    From the Nobel Prize winner—one of the most highly acclaimed writers of the twentieth century—a novel set in the American South during Prohibition about hopeful perseverance in the face of mortality.
    Light in August features some of Faulkner’s most memorable characters: guileless, dauntless Lena Grove, in search of the father of her unborn child; Reverend Gail Hightower, who is plagued by visions of Confederate horsemen; and Joe Christmas, a desperate, enigmatic drifter consumed by his mixed ancestry.

    “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” —William Faulkner

    About Light in August

    From the Nobel Prize winner—one of the most highly acclaimed writers of the twentieth century—a novel set in the American South during Prohibition about hopeful perseverance in the face of mortality.
    Light in August features some of Faulkner’s most memorable characters: guileless, dauntless Lena Grove, in search of the father of her unborn child; Reverend Gail Hightower, who is plagued by visions of Confederate horsemen; and Joe Christmas, a desperate, enigmatic drifter consumed by his mixed ancestry.

    “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” —William Faulkner

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Listen to a sample from Light in August

    Also in Vintage International

    The Rainbow
    The Passenger

    Also in Vintage International

    The Rainbow
    The Passenger

    Also by William Faulkner

    Mosquitoes
    Soldiers' Pay
    These 13
    The Essential Faulkner
    The Wishing Tree
    See all books by William Faulkner

    Also by William Faulkner

    Mosquitoes
    Soldiers' Pay
    These 13
    The Essential Faulkner
    The Wishing Tree
    See all books by William Faulkner

    Also by William Faulkner

    Mosquitoes
    Soldiers' Pay
    These 13
    The Essential Faulkner
    The Wishing Tree
    See all books by William Faulkner

    Also by William Faulkner

    Mosquitoes
    Soldiers' Pay
    These 13
    The Essential Faulkner
    The Wishing Tree
    See all books by William Faulkner

    About William Faulkner

    William Faulkner, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, was born in New Albany, Mississippi, on September 25, 1897. He published his first book, The Marble Faun, in 1924, but it is as a literary chronicler of life in… More about William Faulkner

    About William Faulkner

    William Faulkner, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, was born in New Albany, Mississippi, on September 25, 1897. He published his first book, The Marble Faun, in 1924, but it is as a literary chronicler of life in… More about William Faulkner

    About William Faulkner

    William Faulkner, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, was born in New Albany, Mississippi, on September 25, 1897. He published his first book, The Marble Faun, in 1924, but it is as a literary chronicler of life in… More about William Faulkner

    About William Faulkner

    William Faulkner, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, was born in New Albany, Mississippi, on September 25, 1897. He published his first book, The Marble Faun, in 1924, but it is as a literary chronicler of life in… More about William Faulkner

    Product Details

    Category: Literary Fiction

    Paperback | $18.00
    Published by Vintage
    Jan 30, 1991 | 528 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9780679732266

    Category: Classic Fiction | Literary Fiction

    Hardcover | $24.00
    Published by Modern Library
    Apr 02, 2002 | 496 Pages | 5-3/8 x 8 | ISBN 9780679642480

    Category: Literary Fiction

    Ebook | $5.99
    Published by Vintage
    May 18, 2011 | 528 Pages | ISBN 9780307792174

    Category: Literary Fiction | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $25.00
    Published by Random House Audio
    Apr 18, 2006 | 1043 Minutes | ISBN 9780739341520
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    “For all his concern with the South, Faulkner was actually seeking out the nature of man. Thus we must turn to him for that continuity of moral purpose which made for the greatness of our classics.” —Ralph Ellison

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Get the latest updates about William Faulkner
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    By clicking “SIGN UP”, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.
    Dismiss
    Thanks!
    Something awesome is on its way.
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

     An online magazine for today’s home cook

    An online magazine for today’s home cook