Intruder in the Dust
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Intruder in the Dust is a 1948 crime novel written by American author William Faulkner. Taking place in Mississippi, it revolves around an African American farmer accused of murdering a Caucasian man.
Overview
The novel focuses on Lucas Beauchamp, a
Intruder in the Dust is notable for its use of
The characters of Lucas Beauchamp and his wife, Molly, first appeared in Faulkner's collection of short fiction, Go Down, Moses. A story by Faulkner, "Lucas Beauchamp," was published in 1999.
The character
Intruder in the Dust was turned into a
Analysis
In her contemporary review of the novel, Eudora Welty noted its humor.[2] Dayton Kohler's 1949 article noted the book's recognition of black Americans in the American south.[3] John E. Bassett has commented that this novel represents a "serious attempt to explore contemporary Southern racism through Gavin and Chick."[4] Jean E. Graham has discussed the contrasting rhetorical styles of Gavin and Chick throughout the course of the novel.[5] Ticien Marie Sassoubre has examined the novel in the context of the social issues related to lynching in the American South, and then-recent American federal law with respect to black Americans.[6]
D. Hutchinson has elucidated the unifying literary devices of the novel.[7] Peter J. Rabinowitz analyzed Faulkner's use of the detective story in the context of the "discovery novel" as compared to Dostoyevsky.[8]