

Cormac McCarthy, The Road, and Carrying the Fire
Frye's Introduction to McCarthy
- Steven Frye initially encountered McCarthy's work in 1992 through All the Pretty Horses.
- This led him to explore McCarthy's other novels and eventually specialize in his work.
McCarthy's Initial Lack of Popularity
- McCarthy achieved critical acclaim before popular success, selling fewer than 5,000 copies initially.
- His distinct style, although praised by critics, contributed to this.
McCarthy's Distinctive Style
- McCarthy's writing blends minimalism and ornate language, sometimes archaic, creating a sense of mystery.
- He prioritizes evoking feelings of strangeness and dread over clear, easily understood prose.































Once a year, I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It's a cathartic annual ritual for me. What is it about this novel that has such an impact on my soul and those of other readers? Who is the man who wrote it, and what was he trying to do with this story of a father and son struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic landscape?
For answers to these questions, I decided to talk to a foremost expert on McCarthy's work, as well as the literature of the American West in general. His name is Steven Frye and he's a professor of English, a novelist in his own right, and the author and editor of several books about the reclusive, philosophical author, including Understanding Cormac McCarthy. We begin our conversation with some background on McCarthy and a discussion of his distinctive style and themes, and why he avoids the limelight and prefers to hang out with scientists over fellow artists. We then dive into The Road, and Steve unpacks what inspired it, as well as the authors and books that influenced it. We then dig into the big themes of The Road, and how it can be read as a biblical allegory that wrestles with the existence of God. We delve into the tension which exists between the father and son in the book, and what it means to "carry the fire." We end our conversation with why reading The Road makes you feel both depressed and hopeful at the same time.
A spoiler alert here: If you haven't read The Road yet, we do reveal some of the plot points in this discussion. Also, why haven't you read The Road yet?
Resources Related to the Podcast- Other books by Steven Frye, including his novel Dogwood Crossing
- McCarthy's books mentioned in the show:
- The film adaptation of The Road
- The Santa Fe Institute
- Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- "Cat in the Rain" — short story by Ernest Hemingway
- "Indian Camp" — short story by Ernest Hemingway
- AoM Podcast #635: The Existentialist's Survival Guide
- AoM Article: Carry the Fire
- AoM Article: Books So Good I've Read Them 2X (Or More!)
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