Pilkington brings the soul of a historian to the study of Faulkner's arguably best fiction. This is a splendid treatment of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha novels from 1929 to 1942. It places them not only within the context of his whole body of work and his time, but also in the larger context of American literature and his relationships with its other makers. At the same time that Professor Pilkington provides new insights into these major works, he draws on the broad background of previous scholarship and criticism. Thus this is a valuable book both for the novice and the veteran, the general reader and the specialist. It is written with sensitivity and good sense, with clarity and grace. It should become a standard work in the Faulkner commentary. - Back cover.