Reading McCarthy Episode 13: A Look Behind the Curtains with Marty Priola
Jul 9, 2021
Marty Priola, a scholar of Cormac McCarthy and the mastermind behind the Cormac McCarthy Society’s website, shares fascinating insights from his literary journey. He recounts his discovery of McCarthy through Shelby Foote, illustrating the significance of *All the Pretty Horses* as a gateway to the author's work. Marty also discusses the origins of McCarthy studies, academic insularity, and the joys of collecting books, revealing his passion for both print and eBooks while highlighting his favorite McCarthy novel, *The Crossing*.
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Shelby Foote Sparked A Lifelong Obsession
- Shelby Foote's praise led Marty Priola to buy All the Pretty Horses and become a devoted McCarthy reader.
- That chance encounter launched Marty's long engagement with McCarthy's work and eventually his website.
From Hand‑Coded Site To Society Webpage
- Marty created a hand-coded McCarthy website in the early 1990s to find information and connect readers.
- That site led to contact from Edwin T. Arnold and eventually became the Cormac McCarthy Society's website.
Criticism Circles Back To The Text
- Conference papers often workshop ideas, but deep appreciation at conferences returns repeatedly to reading McCarthy aloud.
- Marty stresses that the work's power resists reduction and must be encountered directly.