Novels, 1957-1962

THE TOWN, the second volume of Faulkner's "Snopes" trilogy, continues the exploits of the ruthless and ambitious Flem Snopes. Flem moves from Frenchman's Bend to Jefferson, where he begins his scheme of taking over the town, beginning with a job at the power plant and later working at the bank. What also preoccupies him, however, is his plan for avenging his wife's infidelity. In THE MANSION, the final novel in the trilogy, Flem Snopes meets his death at the hands of a vengeful relative, Mink Snopes. Faulkner's last novel, THE REIVERS, won the Pulitzer Prize. An essentially comic novel, it tells the story of 11-year-old Lucius "Loosh" Priest; Boon Hogganbeck, who works for Loosh's grandfather; and the black chauffeur, Ned McCaslin. The three embark on a picaresque adventure, stealing Loosh's grandfather's Winton Flyer automobile to go on a joyride to Memphis, where they become involved in a horse smuggling scheme, spend time in jail, and end up at Miss Reba's brothel.