Sacred Violence, Vols. 1 & 2.
Cormac McCarthy's Appalachian Works and Cormac McCarthy's Western Novels
by Wade Hall and Rick Wallach, Eds.
In response to the rapidly growing critical interest in one of America's leading authors, twelve brand new essays and articles have been added to the original set of critical articles from the 1993 First Conference on Cormac McCarthy in this revised double edition of Sacred Violence. In volume I, which concentrates on McCarthy's Appalachian-based works, New York Times best-selling author Robert Morgan recalls the emotional impact that watching The Gardener's Sun had on him and its subsequent impact on his decision to write prose. Mike Gibson introduces you to the real-life east Tennesseeans McCarthy recasts into the unforgettable supporting characters of Suttree, and Caroline Morris considers the toxic impact of hubris in The Stonemason.
In Volume II, which focuses on the Western novels, Harold Bloom, one of the preeminent literary critics of our time, discusses McCarthy's use of language and landscape in Blood Meridian, Nick Monk and Jay Ellis offer complex analyses of the epic Border Trilogy, Raymond Todd reflects upon the Film of All the Pretty Horses and Edwin Arnold reevaluates the importance of The Orchard Keeper as a preliminary crafting of future McCarthy themes and character.
Other articles include eminent historian Richard Marius's keen reminiscences of Suttree's Knoxville, the city he and McCarthy inhabited as children; author/artist Peter Joseph's meditation on reading Blood Meridian aloud; and Dianne Luce contributes a trenchant character study of All the Pretty Horses' John Grady Cole. Other distinguished scholars examine issues of violence, religious imagery, the tradition of black humor, the remarkable characters--like Blood Meridian's Judge Holden--and the idiosyncratic styles of McCarthy's novels and dramatic works.
Volumes are $30.00 each, or the pair for $51.00.
Volume 1
ISBN 0-87404-249-6 Paper
6x9, 179 pp., biblio. 2002
Volume 2
ISBN 0-87404-248-8 Paper
6x9, 231 pp., biblio. 2002
To order, write: Texas Western Press, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0633—or use the Texas Western Press toll-free number (for ordering only): (800) 488-3789—or order by e-mail