A Fable

A FABLE
by William Faulkner

 Awards: National Book Winner 1955, Nobel Prize Winner 1955, Pulitzer Winner 1955

 Date Read: September 19, 2013

 Ah, yes. Faulkner. Again. This novel has several strikes against it in my book heaven world, the first being it's by Faulkner. The second is it's a war tale. The argument waged in this novel is that war is a fundamental part of human nature. While I would like very much to disagree, history, and even the present, would work against me in this argument.

 During WWI, Corporal Stephan, who symbolizes Jesus here, orders his troops to stop fighting and the Germans, in response, cease fire. The war comes to a temporary standstill and eventually, the Corporal is executed.

 Some critics have argued this is Faulkner's failed attempt at a political novel, while others have celebrated this work as the pinnacle of his achievement, which was what Faulkner was hoping for. I personally find A Fable impenetrable and intentionally vague. Am I glad I read it? I'm simply glad I finished it.

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