Background information of 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

When was the novel written?

‘The Road’ was written in 2006 by Cormac McCarthy.

How was it received?

‘The Road’ was received very well when it first came out. It was given hundreds of five star reviews from names like ‘The New York Times’ and ‘The Guardian’ who were quoted of saying “Cormac McCarthy’s other nine novels could be cast as rungs, with ‘The Road’ as a pinnacle.” It was widely acclaimed as a dark, brutal, although also very meaningful and interesting book.

10 important facts about Cormac McCarthy.

1.      Born in 1933, he is now 78 years old.

2.      He was born in Providence, Rhode Island in America.

3.      He wrote all his ten novels on a typewriter which he bought in 1963 for $50. He recently sold it for over $250,000.

4.      Many of his books are quite dark and include a lot of violence.

5.      When he wrote the road, he himself had an 8 year old son.

6.      Out of his ten novels, three were adapted into movies: ‘The Road’, ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘All the Pretty Horses’.

7.      He has won many prestigious awards such as ‘The Pulitzer Prize’ and ‘The US National Book Award’.

8.      He has been increasingly mentioned as a Nobel Prize candidate in literature.

9.      He is media – shy and rarely gives interviews or public appearances.

10.  All his novels have featured predominantly male characters, although he is said to be writing a new novel, where a female character is prominent.