Soldiers' Pay

Before William Faulkner won the Nobel Prize in Literature, he was the author of Soldiers' Pay, his first novel, published in 1926. Not as well known as his later works, Soldiers' Pay ventured into territory that would have been relatable for the era. World War I was wrapped up years earlier, but the wounds from that war, both physically and mentally, still festered. The consequences on families and relationships were enduring. Moreover, service in the military during wartime could leave one cynical and jaded. As there have been many wars since WWI, the themes Faulkner threaded between dysfunctional romances in Soldiers' Pay are ones that continue to resonate to this day.