Includes bibliographical references (p. [435]-461) and index.

Jay Parini’s One Matchless Time is a compelling biography that delves into the life, work, and legacy of William Faulkner, one of America’s greatest novelists. The book traces Faulkner’s roots in the American South, exploring how his upbringing in Mississippi profoundly shaped his storytelling and the fictional world of Yoknapatawpha County.

Parini highlights Faulkner’s innovative literary techniques—such as stream of consciousness, fragmented narratives, and multiple perspectives—that revolutionized modern American fiction. The biography also delves into Faulkner’s personal struggles, including his battles with alcoholism, complex relationships, and his efforts to balance his public persona with private vulnerabilities.

The book covers Faulkner’s major works, including The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, and Absalom, Absalom!, examining their themes of history, memory, race, and identity. Parini also reflects on Faulkner’s experience in World War I, his political views, and his eventual recognition with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949.

Throughout, Parini paints a nuanced portrait of Faulkner as a deeply flawed but extraordinarily gifted artist whose life and writing remain deeply intertwined. The biography situates Faulkner not only as a towering literary figure but also as a man shaped by the contradictions and complexities of the South he so vividly depicted.