The Reivers

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For the band, see The Reivers (band).

The Reivers, published in 1962, is William Faulkner's final novel. The bestselling novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1963. Faulkner previously won this award for his book A Fable, making him one of only two authors to be awarded it more than once. Unlike many of his earlier works, it is a straightforward narration and eschews the complicated literary techniques of his greatest works. It is also uncharacteristically lighthearted. For these reasons, The Reivers is often ignored by Faulkner scholars or dismissed as a lesser work. He previously had referred to writing a "Golden Book of Yoknapatawpha County" which he would finish his literary career with. It is likely that The Reivers was meant to be this "Golden Book."

The Reivers was adapted into a 1969 film starring Steve McQueen and Rupert Crosse, directed by Mark Rydell.

[edit] Plot

The basic plot of The Reivers involves a young boy named Lucius who accompanies a family friend named Boon Hogganbeck to Memphis, where Boon hopes to woo a prostitute named Everbe Corinthia (called Miss Corrie). Since Boon has no way to get to Memphis, he steals Lucius's grandfather's car, the first car in Yoknapatawpha County (The story takes place in the first decade of the 20th century). They discover that Ned, a black who works with Boon at Lucius's grandfather's horse stables, has stowed away with them. When they reach Memphis, Boon and Lucius stay in the brothel while Ned disappears into the black part of town. Soon Ned returns, having traded the car for a racehorse.

The remainder of the story involves Ned's attempts to race the horse in order to win enough money to help out his relative, and Boon's courtship with Miss Corrie. Lucius, a young, wealthy, and sheltered boy, comes of age in Memphis. He comes into contact for the first time with the underside of society. Much of the novel involves Lucius trying to reconcile his genteel and idealized vision of life with the reality he is faced with on this trip. He meets Corrie's nephew, a boy a few years older than Lucius who acts as his foil and embodies many of the worst aspects of humanity. He degrades women, respects no one, blackmails the brothel owner, steals, and curses. Eventually Lucius, ever the white knight, fights him to defend Corrie's honor. She is so touched at his willingness to stand up for her that she determines to become an honest woman.

The climax comes when Lucius rides the horse (named Coppermine, but called Lightning by Ned) in an illicit race. Coppermine is a fast horse, but he likes to run just behind the other horses so he can see them at all times. Ned convinces him to make a final burst to win the race by bribing him with a sardine. After they win the race, Lucius's grandfather shows up. This time Ned does not do the sardine trick, and Coppermine loses. Ned has bet against Coppermine in this race, and the poor black stable hand is able to get the better of the rich white grandfather.

Preceded by: The Mansion	Novels set in Yoknapatawpha County	Succeeded by: none
Preceded by: The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor	Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 1963	Succeeded by: no award given