Reading order
Sin and Salvation reading order
- The Sound and the Fury1929
- As I Lay Dying1930
- Sanctuary1931
- Light In August1932
- Absalom, Absalom!1936
- Requiem for a Nun1950
2
3
6- 6 volumes
- Volumes
- 1929–1950
- Published
- about 40 h
- Reading time
- Completed
- Status
Quick answer
Affiliate link: buying through it supports BookRank at no extra cost to you.
Publication order
6 volumes1929–1950Completed
- Not a reading sequence but a grouping of Faulkner’s separate novels, most set in his invented Yoknapatawpha County; the only true sequel is Requiem for a Nun, which follows Sanctuary.
- Absalom, Absalom! rates highest; As I Lay Dying is the shortest way in.
A plan for the whole series
6 volumes, 2,053 pages, about 40 hours. At 45 min a day that is about 7 weeks.
Share of volume 1’s readers who reach the last volume. Chance of reaching the last volume: low
Stages
3 stages, with 2 short books from outside the series between them. You finish around December 25, 2026, 7 days later than in one go.
- Stage 117 habout 3 weeksby November 20, 2026
- 2. The Sound and the Fury
- 3. As I Lay Dying
- 4. Sanctuary
- Short breakThe Fire Next Time · James Baldwin · 120 pp. · score 8.8
- Stage 216 h21 daysby December 15, 2026
- 5. Light In August
- 6. Absalom, Absalom!
- Short breakThe Emperor's Soul · Brandon Sanderson · 96 pp. · score 8.8
- Stage 35 h7 daysby December 25, 2026
- 7. Requiem for a Nun
- The end of the series
We count 1.1 min per page, the pace of an average novel reader. Faster? Move the slider.
Does the series hold up
Shape of the series: the finale is the best part. The last volume (8.2) stands above the rest. Whoever reaches the end gets the reward.
Best volume: Absalom, Absalom! (8.2, 85 ratings). Weakest: As I Lay Dying (7.5). The series is complete; you can read it start to finish with no waiting. The last volume (8.2) scores close to the series average or above it.
How this plan is calculated
The plan comes from the pages and ratings of each volume: we split the series into stages of about three weeks’ reading, size each break to the stage before it, and read the chance of finishing from how many readers rate the last volume compared with the first. How we work out the plan →
Every volume in order
Order checked by hand · Order and years: Wikidata (CC0). Spotted an error? Tell us. · Data updated October 29, 2026
Sin and Salvation books ranked, best to worst
- 1.Absalom, Absalom!Book 6 · 19368.2
- 2.The Sound and the FuryBook 2 · 19297.6
- 3.As I Lay DyingBook 3 · 19307.5
Frequently asked questions
Which Sin and Salvation book is the best?
By reader score, Absalom, Absalom! (8.2/10). The lowest-rated is As I Lay Dying (7.5/10).
Which Sin and Salvation book is the longest?
“Light In August” is the longest at 480 pages; the shortest is “As I Lay Dying” with 250 pages.
What should I read after Sin and Salvation?
Other series by William Faulkner: Snopes trilogy.
