Skip to content

As I Lay Dying
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

As I Lay Dying Hardcover - 1964

by Faulkner, William


About this book

William Faulkner claimed to have written As I Lay Dying, his fifth novel, in just six weeks — with very little revision — while working at power plant in 1929. While this sounds impressive in and of itself, also consider the fact that this novel has 15 different narrators throughout its 59 chapters and has consistently been recognized as one of the greatest works of the American literature.

As I Lay Dying is the first book in which Faulkner introduces Yoknapatawpha County, a fictional rendition of his native Lafayette County, Mississippi, which became the setting for some of his best-known works. The author’s self-described “tour de force” follows the death of Addie Bundren and her family’s various notions regarding her burial requests and their journey to Jefferson, in the heart of the county, to fulfill them. Poverty, bad weather, injury, and pregnancy are just some of the hindrances faced along the way. Fittingly, the title of the novel comes from a line in Homer’s The Odyssey: “As I lay dying, the woman with the dog's eyes would not close my eyes as I descended into Hades.”

Along with The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying helped to secured Faulkner’s stance as a pioneer of the stream-of-consciousness technique, joining the ranks with James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. In vernacular that echoes Mark Twain, the characters of the novel are able to develop gradually through the perceptions of others. Though this requires readers to take an active part in constructing the story, it also allows for multiple, and sometimes, conflicting interpretations.

Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949 for his novels prior to that date, which includes As I Lay Dying. The novel has also directly influenced a number of other critically acclaimed books, including Graham Swift’s Booker prize-winning novel Last Orders and Suzan-Lori Parks’ Getting Mother’s Body, an African-American retelling of the story. As I Lay Dying is ranked 35th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century and 55th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels. The Grammy-nominated metalcore band As I Lay Dying derived its name from this book as well. In 2014, writer/director James Franco released a film adaptation of the novel.

From the publisher

One of William Faulkner's finest novels, As I Lay Dying was originally published in 1930, and remains a captivating and stylistically innovative work. The story revolves around a grim yet darkly humorous pilgrimage, as Addie Bundren's family sets out to fulfill her last wish: to be buried in her native Jefferson, Mississippi, far from the miserable backwater surroundings of her married life. Told through multiple voices, it vividly brings to life Faulkner's imaginary South, one of the great invented landscapes in all of literature, and is replete with the poignant, impoverished, violent, and hypnotically fascinating characters that were his trademark.
This edition reproduces the corrected text of As I Lay Dying as established in 1985 by Noel Polk.

First Edition Identification

Jonathan Cape & Harrison Smith first published As I Lay Dying in New York in 1930. The first edition states “First Published 1930” on the copyright page with no additional printings listed and includes an “I” aligned incorrectly on page 11. The dust jack of the first edition states the original price of $2.50 on its front flap. True first editions have sold for upwards of $6,000 — and can go for as much as $12,000 with Faulkner’s signature.

Details

  • Title As I Lay Dying
  • Author Faulkner, William
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 4th printing. [N
  • Publisher Random House, NY:
  • Date 1964-02
  • ISBN 9780394415819
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

As I Lay Dying
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

As I Lay Dying

by William Faulkner

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
7
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.89
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Random House Publishing Group, 1964. Hardcover. Acceptable. Disclaimer:Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$11.89
FREE shipping to USA
As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying

by Faulkner, William

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
4
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.89
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Random House (NY), 1964. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$11.89
FREE shipping to USA
As I Lay Dying
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

As I Lay Dying

by William Faulkner

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$48.24
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Random House, 1964-02-12. Hardcover. Good.
Item Price
NZ$48.24
FREE shipping to USA
As I Lay Dying
More Photos

As I Lay Dying

by Faulkner, William

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good+
Edition
First Edition THUS
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$168.92
NZ$8.45 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, 1964-02-12. First Edition THUS. Hardcover. Very Good+/Very Good- Dust Jacket. 5x1x8. New York: Random House, 1964. 1st printing of this "new edition, corrected and reset" with "first printing 1964" statement on CP (1st edition THUS). Previous owner's inscription on front endpaper, otherwise text appears clean. Binding is tight, sturdy, and square. Blue cloth boards with gilt-stamp lettering look great, corners remain sharp. Unclipped dust jacket has a price of $4.95 on inner flap. DJ has light edgewear/rubbing. From a personal collection. Ships same or next business day from Dinkytown in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Item Price
NZ$168.92
NZ$8.45 shipping to USA
As I Lay Dying
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

As I Lay Dying

by Faulkner, William

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
1
Seller
San Diego, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$171.23
NZ$9.21 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Random House, 1964-02-12. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
Item Price
NZ$171.23
NZ$9.21 shipping to USA
AS I LAY DYING

AS I LAY DYING

by William Faulkner

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used
Edition
Corrected Edition; Sixth Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Pomona, New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$281.15
NZ$15.12 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House. 1964. Corrected Edition; Sixth Printing. Hardcover. 0394415817 . Very Good+ in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Light foxing on front panel. 1/4 inch open tear at top of rear panel. ; 7.9 X 5.5 X 1.0 inches; 250 pages .
Item Price
NZ$281.15
NZ$15.12 shipping to USA
AS I LAY DYING

AS I LAY DYING

by William Faulkner

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used
Edition
Corrected Edition; Eighth Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394415819
ISBN 10
0394415817
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Pomona, New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$281.15
NZ$15.12 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House. 1964. Corrected Edition; Eighth Printing. Hardcover. 0394415817 . Very Good+ in a Very Good+ price clipped dust jacket. Remainder mark on bottom text block edge. 2 inch open tear at top of rear flap fold. ; 7.9 X 5.5 X 1.0 inches; 250 pages .
Item Price
NZ$281.15
NZ$15.12 shipping to USA