ALL THE PRETTY HORSES

With the passing of Cormac McCarthy earlier this year, the Den revisited one of our favourite books from his collection, the first of his border trilogy 'All The Pretty Horses'. Reassuringly, we loved this contemporary classic just as much as second time round. Mesmerising prose, melodic rhythm combined with a love for fauna and the desert this American West adventure is a work of compelling and understated splendour.

John Cole is 16 when his grandfather dies and he finds himself adrift from his Texas ranching upbringing. Cole’s relationship with his mother is detached so when she decided to sell the family ranch, he re-evaluates his life and with his friend Lacey Rawlins, the pair head on their horses for the wilds of Mexico. Complications ensue when they agree to help a young runaway called Jimmy Blevins capture back ‘his’ stolen horse and are branded horse thieves. In their flight, they separate from Blevins and so, begins a remarkable coming of age story as these two young men journey on horseback through the dramatic landscapes of this striking, unforgiving terrain. It is a journey of survival, danger, proving their ranching skills and forbidden love so exquisitely portrayed through McCarthy’s absorbing tempo.

This is a book to be enjoyed for its lyrical prose and hauntingly rich narrative which brings this harsh rugged landscape and his characters so captivatingly to life. You feel and breathe the American West. And central to McCarthy’s writing is the understated pairing of the dramatic sequences with his rich descriptions of nature and the barren yet beautiful landscape.

'All the Pretty Horses was made into a film in 2000 with Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz.
This is the first of the trilogy ('The Crossing' and 'Cities of the Plain' follow).

Den tip – we read the book this time on the kindle which is a real help to look up and appreciate unfamiliar vocabulary.