Faulkner’s most famous, most popular, and most anthologized short story, “A Rose for Emily” evokes the terms Southern gothic and grotesque, two types of literature in which the general tone is one of gloom, terror, and understated violence. Quotes from the book: “For a long while we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin. The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace, but now the long sleep that outlasts love, that conquers even the grimace of love, had cuckolded him.” “She carried her head high enough - even when we believed that she was fallen. It was as if she demanded more than ever the recognition of her dignity as the last Grierson.” “...the very old men believing that they had danced with her and courted her perhaps, confusing time with its mathematical progression, as the old do, to whom all the past is not a diminishing road.” Readers' reviews: “I came to know about this book through the song 'In The End' by My Chemical Romance, which is inspired on this book. And I must say, this is the greatest story ever written. While the story is most macabre, for me it also shows the ultimate end of Romance and Love.” (Megan, goodreads.com) “Another short story required for school. You'd think I would hate this simply because I was forced to read this and maybe at first I was, but who can resist a good mystery?” (Gellie, goodreads.com) “A Rose for Emily is probably one of the most macabre stories I have read from William Faulkner. It is really short and from the beginning lines it really is not clear what direction the story is going to go in, but the more you read the more apparent it is where Faulkner decided to go with it.” (Nicole Green, goodreads.com)
