As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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.
First Edition Identification and Notes
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.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Chatto & Windus published the first UK edition of As I Lay Dying in London in 1935.
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$12,500.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$7,500.00
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As I Lay Dying.
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Raptis Rare Books
- Published
- 1939
- Item Price
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$7,500.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$7,500.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$6,000.00
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As I Lay Dying.
by FAULKNER, William.
- Seller
- Jeffrey H. Marks Rare Books
- Published
- [1930].
- Condition
- A bright, sharp copy with a light splash at the top of the front board, a small area of the usual discoloration from the adhesiv
- Edition
- First edition; first printing with dropped I on p. 1
- Item Price
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$5,000.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$5,000.00
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As I Lay Dying.
by FAULKNER, William.
- Seller
- Jeffrey H. Marks Rare Books
- Published
- [1930].
- Condition
- Near fine in a jacket with a shallow chip at the top of the spine (affecting no printing) and a light coin-sized dampstain at th
- Edition
- First edition, second printing.
- Item Price
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$4,500.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$4,500.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good+
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
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$3,200.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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- curtis paul books inc.
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Near Fine in Very Good+ dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
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$2,800.00
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AS I LAY DYING -1ST ED 1ST STATE
by FAULKNER WILLIAM
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- Rare Square Books
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$2,400.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
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$2,000.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
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$950.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
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$750.00
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$750.00
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As I Lay Dying (First edition second printing)
by William Faulkner
- Seller
- Shelley and Son Books
- Published
- 1930
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition, second printing
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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![image of As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text [Paperback] Faulkner, William](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/f/259/732/9780679732259.RH.0.m.jpg)
As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text [Paperback] Faulkner, William
by Faulkner, William
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- Orphans Treasure Box
- Published
- 1991-01-30
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780679732259
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$329.00
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Bonita
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781415927731
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$297.67
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AS I LAY DYING
by FAULKNER,WILLIAM
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- Campus Bookstore
- Published
- 2014-01-01
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780679732259
- Item Price
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$199.99
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
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- AUSSIEWORLDBOOKS
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780099479314
- Item Price
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$152.49
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- AUSSIEWORLDBOOKS
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780099479314
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$152.49
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AS I LAY DYING
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Alta-Glamour Inc.
- Published
- 1935
- Condition
- Blue cloth; spine sunned to yellow. Bookplate. Slight slant to spine; a little loose, with binding exposed opposite page 1, but
- Edition
- 1st UK edition
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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AS I LAY DYING
by William Faulkner
- Seller
- Rare Book Cellar
- Published
- 1964
- Edition
- Corrected Edition; Eighth Printing
- ISBN
- 9780394415819
- Item Price
-
$149.95
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AS I LAY DYING
by William Faulkner
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- Rare Book Cellar
- Published
- 1964
- Edition
- Corrected Edition; Sixth Printing
- ISBN
- 9780394415819
- Item Price
-
$149.95
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Bonita
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9781415927731
- Item Price
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$149.41
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As i lay dying
by Faulkner, William
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- Books from Worldwide
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780099479314
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$145.45
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2006-03-04
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780764587368
- Item Price
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$134.84
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As I Lay Dying (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1991-01-07
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780808514930
- Item Price
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$130.42
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As I Lay Dying (Norton Critical Editions)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2009-07-02
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780393931389
- Item Price
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$124.53
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- The Wise Owl
- Published
- 2001
- Condition
- Fine. No dust jacket. Like new!
- ISBN
- 9781581305531
- Item Price
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$119.51
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As I Lay Dying (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2000-05-05
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780375504525
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$118.64
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As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text (Modern Library) As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
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- 2000-03-04
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- New
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- 9780375504525
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$115.69
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2018-05-05
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- New
- ISBN
- 9781717393784
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$111.27
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2007-03-01
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- New
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- 9780679732259
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$111.27
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As I Lay Dying - V745
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1987-02-05
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780394747453
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$108.33
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2006-01-05
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780099479314
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AS I LAY DYING
by WILLIAM FAULKNER
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- 2014-01-01
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- New
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- 9780679732259
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$106.85
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As I Lay Dying (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage International)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2013-03-02
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780804170413
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$105.38
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As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1991-07-07
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780679732259
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$105.38
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As I Lay Dying (The collected works of William Faulkner)
by Faulkner, William
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- Better World Books Ltd
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780701106652
- Item Price
-
$98.05
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As I Lay Dying(unabridged)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2016-03-05
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9787500144182
- Item Price
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$98.01
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Bonita
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780764587368
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$95.92
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Bonita
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780394415819
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$95.90
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2018-05-05
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9781717393784
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$88.83
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As I Lay Dying (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1991-01-07
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780808514930
- Item Price
-
$87.63
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As I Lay Dying(unabridged)
by William Faulkner
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2016-03-05
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9787500144182
- Item Price
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$85.21
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As I Lay Dying
by Faulkner, William
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2001-08-04
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780394603780
- Item Price
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$85.21
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As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2006-03-04
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780764587368
- Item Price
-
$85.21
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As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text (Modern Library) As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2000-03-04
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780375504525
- Item Price
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$82.80