ابشالوم، ابشالوم!

Published in 1936, Absalom, Absalom! is considered by many to be William Faulkners masterpiece. Although the novels complex and fragmented structure poses considerable difficulty to readers, the books literary merits place it squarely in the ranks of Americas finest novels. The story concerns Thomas Sutpen, a poor man who finds wealth and then marries into a respectable family. His ambition and extreme need for control bring about his ruin and the ruin of his family. Sutpens story is told by several narrators, allowing the reader to observe variations in the saga as it is recounted by different speakers. This unusual technique spotlights one of the novels central questions: To what extent can people know the truth about the past?