"The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner is a classic novel that explores the decline of a Southern aristocratic family through four different narratives. The Compson family's struggles with financial ruin, loss of faith, and tragic deaths are portrayed through the eyes of family members and a black servant. The novel's non-linear style and stream-of-consciousness writing create a complex and challenging reading experience, delving into themes of family, morality, and tragedy.