52 pages • 1 hour read
William FaulknerLight in August
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1932A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Published in 1932, Light in August by William Faulkner is set in the American South during prohibition and follows an ensemble cast of characters, including Lena Grove, a young pregnant woman seeking her lover, and Joe Christmas, a biracial man navigating alienation and a tumultuous relationship, culminating in a tragic series of events. The novel features racism, violence, and systemic inequality.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
William Faulkner's Light in August is celebrated for its intricate narrative and deep psychological insight, offering a profound look at racial and social themes in the American South. Critics praise its richly drawn characters and linguistic brilliance, though some note its dense prose and nonlinear structure can be challenging.
Who Should Read Light in August?
A reader who enjoys Southern Gothic literature, complex character studies, and themes of identity, race, and isolation would appreciate William Faulkner's Light in August. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner himself may find this novel particularly engaging.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
930LBook Details
Modernism
Southern Gothic
Drama / Tragedy
Southern Literature
American Literature
History: U.S.
History: World