Mystery and Possibility in Cormac McCarthy

This review examines Understanding Cormac McCarthy by Steven Frye and Reading the World: Cormac McCarthy’s Tennessee Period by Dianne C. Luce. Covering McCarthy’s entire career, Frye’s book deals generally with themes, aesthetics and historical context; Frye also argues that many of McCarthy’s works are best understood within the American romance tradition. Luce’s book discusses McCarthy’s first five published works, including his screenplay, The Gardener’s Son, investigating the role of local history and philosophy¾most significantly ancient Gnosticism¾in shaping the author’s unique vision.