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40 pages 1 hour read

Intruder In The Dust

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1948

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Background

Authorial Context: William Faulkner

William Faulkner was born on September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi. Faulkner was the eldest of four sons. When Faulkner was a young boy, he and his family moved to Oxford, Mississippi, a town that would later become the fictional Yoknapatawpha County in many of his works. Faulkner’s early life was steeped in the lore and traditions of the American South, which profoundly influenced his literary themes. Faulkner’s works are characterized by their innovative narrative techniques, including stream of consciousness, multiple viewpoints, and time shifts. His exploration of themes such as the decline of the Old South, the complexities of identity, and the pervasive influence of history and memory resonated with both contemporary readers and future generations.

Intruder in the Dust, published in 1948, tells the story of Lucas Beauchamp, a Black man wrongly accused of murdering a white man in Mississippi. Faulkner’s portrayal of Lucas Beauchamp is notable for its depth and complexity. Unlike many African American characters in literature of the time, Lucas is depicted as a dignified, intelligent, and resourceful man who commands respect despite the racial barriers he faces. This blurred text
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