Dry September

"Dry September" is a short story by William Faulkner. Published in 1931, it describes a lynch mob forming (despite ambiguous evidence) on a hot September evening to avenge an alleged (and unspecified) insult or attack upon a white woman by a black watchman, Will Mayes. Told in five parts, the story includes the perspective of the rumored female victim and of the mob's leader. It is one of Faulkner's shorter stories.

It was originally published in Scribner's magazine, and later appeared in collections of his short stories.

It includes an appearance by Hawkshaw, the barber who was the focus of Faulkner's later story, "Hair".

External links

• Full text of "Dry September", courtesy of the New Bulgarian University

"Dry September" analysis and resources for teachers and students