Customer Reviews
Good Picture Words, Weak Story Line - By: James Gallen, 26 May 2004 
“Go Down , Moses” was formed out of the melding of a series of short stories into a novel about the McCaslin family of Jefferson, Mississippi. Extending through the life of Ike McCaslin, his youthful experiences help him to later face a crucial test about his family’s legacy. The complex racial relations of Faulkner’s novels introduce the reader to a world which most of us could never understand or even imagine.
Like other Faulkner novels, I find the dialogue & stream of consciousness to be the most alluring qualities of the book. The thoughts of the characters, the descriptions of the scenes & the dialogues paint mental pictures of the actionin which the reader can feel himself to be a part.
I had a bit of trouble following the story line, but the descriptions mentioned above carry the book. Faulkner is a magician with the pen. For that, this book is a good read.
Faulkner's most mature, accessible book dealing with race - By: , 10 Mar 1999 
It becomes quite clear after reading Go Down Moses why many critics call this William Falkner's most mature book dealing with race. In Go Down Moses, the black characters are not only as well represented as may be possible from a white author, they are believable & easy to relate to. The main character "Uncle Ike", the grandson of an influential plantation owner, comes to represent everyone who struggles with identity in the miserable face of racism. The style of the book itself was confusing for readers & critics when first published, as it makes use of a series of chapters, each with its own title & numbered sections. Faulkner resisted having the book called a collection of short stories & most modern readers should have little problem with its nonsequential chapters & its sometimes, seemingly, unrelated characters. If you have read some Faulkner, especially A Lightin August or Absalom, Absalom or if you enjoy authors such as Toni Morrison & Richard Wright you must read this book to get an idea of just how far Faulkner came toward wrestling with racein his time.
