The Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Cormac McCarthy, known for some incredible books over the years including The Road, has died aged 89 his publisher announced. The playwright and screenwriter was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential contemporary American writers.
Known for his distinctive writing style and exploration of themes such as violence, morality, and the human condition, McCarthy’s works often delve into dark and bleak landscapes, both literal and metaphorical. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to literature.
Penguin Random House confirms to @wbznewsradio that author Cormac McCarthy has died at the age of 89. Born in Providence, RI, McCarthy authored classics including "All the Pretty Horses", "No Country for Old Men", and "The Road". He died of natural causes at home in Santa Fe, NM. pic.twitter.com/7cCIJ1T3Im
— WBZ NewsRadio (@wbznewsradio) June 13, 2023
Who is author?
McCarthy was born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr. on July 20, 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island. He grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1956. He began his writing career in the early 1960s. His first novel, The Orchard Keeper, was published in 1965. He has since published eleven more novels, including Blood Meridian (1985), No Country for Old Men (2005), and The Road (2006). He has also written two plays, The Stonemason (2001) and The Sunset Limited (2006), and five screenplays, including The Counselor (2013). McCarthy's work is known for its graphic violence, its sparse use of punctuation, and its dark and often bleak vision of the world. He has been praised for his powerful writing style and his ability to create memorable characters. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Best books by Cormac McCarthy:
Some of Cormac McCarthy’s best-known and highly acclaimed books include:
- “Blood Meridian” (1985). This epic Western novel is often considered one of McCarthy’s masterpieces. Set in the mid-19th century, it follows a teenage runaway known as “the kid” who becomes entangled with a ruthless gang of scalp hunters.
- “No Country for Old Men” (2005). This gripping and suspenseful novel tells the story of a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas-Mexico borderlands. It explores themes of fate, morality, and the nature of evil.
- “The Road” (2006). A post-apocalyptic novel that follows a father and his young son. They journey across a devastated and desolate landscape. It is a haunting exploration of survival, love, and the human spirit.
- “All the Pretty Horses” (1992). The first instalment of McCarthy’s Border Trilogy, this novel takes readers on a journey with a young cowboy named John Grady Cole as he ventures into Mexico, encountering love, danger, and the fading world of the American West.
- “Suttree” (1979). Set in the 1950s, this novel follows the solitary and introspective life of Cornelius Suttree, a man who has chosen to live on the fringes of society along the Tennessee River. It delves into themes of isolation, redemption, and the search for meaning.
While these are some of McCarthy’s most celebrated works, he has also written other notable novels, including “Child of God” (1973), “Outer Dark” (1968), and “Cities of the Plain” (1998), which completes the Border Trilogy.
Overall, McCarthy’s writing is known for its vivid imagery, sparse prose, and philosophical undertones. His books often confront the harsh realities of life while exploring themes of human nature and the struggle for meaning in a chaotic world.
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