The Reivers

"The Reivers: A Reminiscence" is William Faulkner's final novel, set in the early 20th century. It follows 11-year-old Lucius Priest, who becomes unwittingly involved in a scheme to go to Memphis with the family friend Boon Hogganbeck. Boon steals Lucius' grandfather's car, and they are joined by Ned McCaslin, a black man and cousin of the Priests. In Memphis, they stay at a boarding-house run by Miss Reba, where Lucius meets Otis, an unpleasant boy, and Miss Corrie, a former prostitute. Lucius fights Otis, impressing Corrie, who decides to change her life. Ned trades the car for a supposedly lame racehorse, and they hatch a plan to race the horse in a nearby town to win back the car. They smuggle the horse by rail, and Lucius rides it during the race. However, local lawman Butch interferes, causing chaos. Eventually, they manage to race the horse, and it wins surprisingly. Later, Ned reveals the true nature of his scheme, involving a gambling debt and a worthless horse. Boss Priest, Lucius' grandfather, intervenes and pays the penalty to retrieve the car. Back home, he protects Lucius from punishment, understanding the ordeal he went through was enough. Boon and Corrie get married and have a son named after Lucius. The novel explores themes of adventure, coming-of-age, and the complexities of human relationships in Faulkner's rich storytelling style.