The first book in the Snopes trilogy, The Hamlet tells the story of Ab Snopes's arrival in the rural community of Frenchman's Bend; his son Flem's rise to power; and his family's transition from outcasts to central, if dangerous, players in the life of the town. With a memorable cast of characters that appear in many of William Faulkner's other works, The Hamlet is a commentary on post-war conditions in the American South.

Originally published in 1940, The Hamlet was Faulkner's twelfth novel. His works The Town and The Mansion complete the trilogy. The Hamlet was loosely adapted into the film The Long, Hot Summer featuring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

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