This paper compares the literary success of two novels published in 1955: "The Dollmaker," by Harriette Arnow, and "A Fable," by William Faulkner. Reviews of each book reflect that Arnow's book was judged excellent, while Faulkner's book was considered rough and unpolished. In spite of the reviews, Faulkner received the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award that year, and Arnow never attained academic recognition. Although exclusion from the literary record may reflect judgments of quality, this paper examines two other factors that might be involved. Quotations cited indicate that Faulkner was awarded the Pulitzer Prize as a long overdue tribute for the body of his work, rather than specifically for "A Fable." In addition, Arnow was an unknown writer and her book did not fit into any of the current literary movements of the time. The paper states that there is a tendency on the part of academic specialists to fit authors into movements or groups, and that even good books will be lost in time if there are no compelling reasons for academics to consider them. (MAI)