William Faulkner: His Life and Work

by David Minter

A widely acclaimed biography presents a Faulkner who is powerful, vulnerable, real—every bit as fascinating as the characters he created. In this highly acclaimed biography, David Minter draws upon a wealth of material, including the novelist's essays, interviews, published and unpublished letters, as well as his poems, stories, and novels, to illuminate the close relationship between the flawed life and the artistic achievement of one of twentieth-century America's most complex literary figures. In the process, he reveals a Faulkner who is powerful, vulnerable, real—every bit as fascinating as the characters he created. Anyone who has ever tarried in Yoknapatawpha County will find this a sensitive and readable account of the novelist's struggles in art and life. In his new preface, Minter locates his biography in relation to the changes in the literary critical landscape during the 1980s and discusses its departures from New Critical tenets about the relationship between authors' lives and their works.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my money the most entertaining (ie. readable) of Faulkner biographies. Blotner remains the standard, I suppose, if only because of the mass authority of fact, but something about its sheer heft (even the revised version) makes it hard to digest. It's the equivalent of eating fondue cheese with a cold glass of water. Minter's bio is thematic, which means the facts of the life are used to illuminate the stories rather than vice versa. If it feels old-timey, it's because it takes Faulkner on his own terms rather than trying to apply the interests of the academy to it. (That, and it was published in 82). It may not be the source you go to for the real magoo, but it's the place you go to read it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minter's biography on Faulkner is good without going to the depth of Blotner's bio (which Minter acknowledges as the authority). I am familiar with all of Faulkner's major works and Minter definelty improved my understanding of them. The wacky narrative innovations that Faulkner is known for receive attention, though I am sure other books give those elements more attention. Points I found most helpful were those explaining Faulkner's turn, beginning with "A Fable," towards more didactic work. I didn't have any idea where this shift came from and Minter explains it well (the war, fame, and age being the most important). I would recommend this to Faulkner fans, though not Faulkner scholars.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy of this wonderful work is full of post-its and has many, many passages underlined and comments in the margin. Minter writes beautifully - and authoritatively - and shows a deep respect for and understanding of Faulkner and his work. It made me treasure Faulkner's novels all the more.