The sound and the fury

the long version

The epic and tragic story of the Compson family, three generations of Southern aristocrats on the brink of ruin. Unprecedented for its time, Faulkner weaves a tale spanning nearly two decades and told from multiple points of view in a style all its own. Featuring some of the most memorable characters in literature—the beautiful and rebellious Caddy; the haunted and neurotic Quentin; the brutal and cynical Jason; and Dilsey, the matriarchal servant who observes them all—this novel is a heartrending investigation of family, legacy, social change, and the decline of a once powerful aristocratic dynasty.