The novel The Unvanquished by William Faulkner consists of seven stories about the American Civil War. The protagonists of each of them are representatives of the Sartoris family from the southern state of Mississippi. All the stories are closely related to each other, not only by common characters, but also by the plot: maturing of a young man against the background of the events of the American Civil War. All of them, with the exception of the latter, were originally written by Faulkner for publication in literary magazines - hence the simplicity of style designed for a wide range of readers. The final story, “An Odor of Verbena”, was already written by the time the writer decided to publish "The Unvanquished" as a separate book, so it can be considered the culmination and logical conclusion of this novel. Though this is a book about war, here is no military action, but life of an ordinary family from the southern states. And from this family only Bayard is not influenced by the unwritten customs of the South, and stands out from the rest.
The Unvanquished is in essence the memories of Bayard Sartoris of his youth. Faulkner describes the war in terms of the boy Bayard, whose father is at war with the Yankees. Bayard lives in the estate with his grandmother, blacks and his very close friend Ringo. Events begin to develop namely from the arrival of John Sartoris, father of Bayard, for a few days home. Although the events of the novel cover over twelve years. All events are shown in his perception, but this only makes it more interesting: what kind of war a fifteen-year-old boy saw, which in his perception the Yankees meant. Almost everywhere, he is accompanied by Ringo, his faithful friend, an intelligent little black who had to grow up too early. It is impossible not to mention about the grandmother of Bayard - Rosa Millard. Such an extraordinary person, she caused at the same time affection and admiration. This slender old woman managed to fool around entire Yankee detachments and turn off impressive frauds with mules, and all this was done not for herself, but for the good but poor Jeffersons.
In the narration, one might encounter the kindness, care and firm attitude of granny, with maturation and awareness of oneself in the world against the background of war, the problem of free and unacceptable female choice in a conservative society, and the discovery that sometimes the most difficult battles that are fought are not on the battlefield. If we ignore the topic of the Civil War, against which the events of the book occur, then humanism occupies the main place in the work. The strength and weakness of the human spirit are deeply affected by the writer, and humanity in the novel overcomes violence, and therefore there is hope for reconciliation of the South and North.
