As I Lay Dying is a 1930 novel by American author William Faulkner. Faulkner said that he wrote the novel from midnight to 4:00 AM over the course of six weeks and that he did not change a word of it. The book is narrated by 15 different characters. It is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her poor, rural family's quest and motivations - noble or selfish - to honor her wish to be buried in her hometown of Jefferson.