As I Lay Dying ’s place in Faulkner’s literary life. Author: William Faulkner. As I Lay Dying ’s critical history and scholarly reception. Eleven critical essays are included—five new to the Second Edition—by Olga W. Vickery, Cleanth Brooks, Eric Sundquist, Doreen Fowler, Dorothy J. Hale, Patrick O’Donnell, John T. Matthews, John Limon, Richard Godden, Susan Scott Parrish, and Erin E. Edwards.