Top products from r/cormacmccarthy

Hey man, that's a huge victory. You should be incredibly proud of yourself for this step. If nothing else, you've been a part of an anthology and that's something to be celebrated. My book is called 'The Black God', you can find it at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1727336798

'Can arrogance keep you from starting a new project?'
I think it's arrogant to expect nobel-level things from oneself (with 'expect' being the key modal here). You should aspire to be amongst the greatest ever but you shouldn't fool yourself into believing that it's your destiny or something. When a person heaps that much pressure on themselves, it can be debilitating. I understand why McCarthy chose to isolate himself, it's because without anyone else involving themselves in his craft, the only expectations left were his own. He was free to experiment and to focus without having to worry about the most noxious interference (other people).

It sounds like your feet are firmly on the ground tbh, just try and tell your own stories in your own style and I'm sure you will reach a level of great satisfaction and skill.

I refer to someone being a XXX Scholar when they publish a large amount of work on a particular author or subject. In this case, he published a book of criticism on McCarthy as a part of a larger series done by the publisher on particular authors. His PhD thesis was focused more on American Romantic literature and its influences from British authors (IIRC, I haven't read the doctoral thesis). He's also done a lot of work on Charles Dickens as well.

I'm sure there are other people whose output is almost universally on a particular author. Rich Wallach would be considered a McCarthy Scholar, but honestly I have no clue whether he's done work on a lot of other authors.

For instance: I don't know much about John Cant, but I'd consider him a McCarthy scholar based on this release alone (which is really good, so good I paid 40$ for it recently in preparation for a re-read of all of McCarthy's books): https://www.amazon.com/McCarthy-American-Exceptionalism-Studies-Literary/dp/0415875676/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465944508&sr=1-1&keywords=John+Cant+myth+american+exceptionalism

Often they use different theoretical frameworks with which to analyze a particular author.

I'm not even fit to shine Mr McCarthy's roper boots but I am a big fan of his and I did write a novel in a vaguely similar style: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1727336798

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I'd also highly suggest Daniel Woodrell, Herman Melville (who he gets most of his inspiration from) and Faulkner, who is widely compared to him.

This book follows direct sources McCarthy used in writing Blood Meridian, but also has an expanded area dedicated to the themes present in it.

[Notes on Blood Meridian]( https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Blood-Meridian-Southwestern-Collection/dp/0292718217/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R50HOI9LDL15&keywords=notes+on+blood+meridian&qid=1568861843&sprefix=notes+on+blood+%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1 )

This book translates all the foreign languages along with giving a page by page analysis.

[A Reader's Guide to Blood Meridian]( https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Guide-Blood-Meridian/dp/0978834917/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/146-5559958-2804223?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0978834917&pd_rd_r=7f6b308c-372c-481d-b7de-b9181d0d24e3&pd_rd_w=s5W3g&pd_rd_wg=K75oS&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=VVX9JQRFZ16EC4WYA284&psc=1&refRID=VVX9JQRFZ16EC4WYA284 )


I know these may not be exactly what you're looking for, but I think they'll give you some insight.

If you haven’t, you should pick up the works of Breece DJ Pancake. Funny name, but his short stories CUT. He’ll fit perfectly into your Appalachian/Southern Gothic row. Here.

I have the Everyman's Library edition, which has all 3 in a single hardback book. I don't really know much about book collecting or anything, but personally I really like the quality of it.

The article is difficult to find, but this conversation might be of some help.

Edit: You can read six pages of the article by using Amazon's "look inside" feature, here.

I ordered mine on amazon a year or two ago

https://www.amazon.com/Stonemason-Play-Five-Acts/dp/0679762809

My Confession by Samuel Chamberlain is a must read for Blood Meridian fans. Most of McCarthy's historical structure comes from it. Judge Holden also makes an appearance.

https://www.amazon.com/My-Confession-Recollections-Samuel-Chamberlain/dp/0876111568

Take a look at Books Are Made Out of Books: A Guide to Cormac McCarthy's Literary Influences. You'll get a lot of insight there.

It seriously gives sooooo much added context and background detail that after re-reading the book a handful of times I picked up on stuff I never otherwise would have.

https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Blood-Meridian-Southwestern-Collection/dp/0292718217

I wouldn't limit your search to fiction.

Do not miss the following:

1. Captured By The Indians: 15 Firsthand Accounts, 1750-1870

The title is self-explanatory. There is some serious brutality in these stories.


2. North American Indians by George Catlin

The accounts of a portrait painter who traveled out to different native groups from 1831-1837 to paint them and document their ways before they were destroyed. It contains some truly incredible stories and is a valuable reference.

3. The Falcon by John Tanner

John Tanner was captured by natives as a small child and lived with them for several decades, and had a hell of a unique experience.

4. The Journals of Lewis & Clark.
Very interesting encounters between the expedition and wildly different groups of natives.