Books

New York: Harrison Smith and Robert Haas, 1932. First Edition. Faulkner's seventh novel, set in the American South during the days of Prohibition and Jim Crow, exploring themes of race, class, sex, and faith. "At its base, this is a simple, small-town idyll, but in execution it becomes a complex novel packed with comedy, violent misfortune, and implicit moral and social commentary. Four major characters lead frustrated lives: a part-Negro who passes for white and finally ends the victim of a mob; a preacher whose religion doesn't meet reality; a lonely woman; a migratory worker" (Coan, America in Fiction, p.58). One of the defining books of the 1930's, and cited in The Modern Library's "100 Best Novels" list. Petersen A13a. First Printing, one of 8,500 copies. Octavo (21cm); coarse tan cloth, with titles stamped in orange and blue on spine and front cover; orange topstain; dustjacket; [iv],480pp. Fine in a very Near Fine dustjacket, unclipped (priced $2.50), with some pinpoint…

Light in August is a novel by the American author William Faulkner. First published in 1932, the novel is set in Faulkner's fictional Yoknapatawpha County and weaves together several intricate plots. The narrative centers around Joe Christmas, a man of uncertain racial heritage, and explores themes of identity, myth, and racism.

Identifying a first edition of 'Light in August' can involve checking the publisher's page for statements such as 'First Edition' or the presence of a date on the copyright page that matches the book's initial release date in 1932. For Smith & Haas editions, the absence of subsequent printings or editions may also indicate a first edition.